Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK Sales Rise Again in 2011

SHEFFIELD, England, August 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Volkswagen has seen demand for the latest range of vans and people carriers from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles increase strongly in the UK during the first half of the year.  Sales have increased by over 16 per cent and registrations by over 2,400 vehicles, or 19 per cent, compared to the same period last year, to achieve an 11.3 per cent market share.

With all its van ranges updated over the last 18 months, plus the introduction of the new Amarok pick-up earlier this year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has one of the most competitive and desirable range of vans with cost effective whole life costs and low rate financing offers available from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Finance.

The new Caddy was the best-selling light van in the 2,001 to 2,499 kg class with sales up by over 14 per cent, or almost 1,000 vehicles, to make it Volkswagen's best-selling van of the year, ahead of the Transporter by a narrow margin.

Over 1,000 more Transporter vans were registered in the UK in the first six months to June than in the same period a year ago, making it comfortably the second best-selling van with a 22.1 per cent market share behind the Ford Transit in the 2,800 to 3,499 kg medium van sector.

Crafter sales stayed strong without any decline despite the impending launch of the new model in August, while the 240 Amarok pick-ups that have been registered in the UK this year also added to sales volumes during this period.

Simon Elliott, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: "We are really pleased that more van drivers are enjoying driving Volkswagens this year.  It is a great sign that more businesses are wise enough to choose Volkswagen vans in these tough economic times, and with our Van Centre network continuing to expand, and the new Crafter set to shake up the large van sector, we will continue to work hard to make more customers happy throughout the rest of the year."

This success in the UK has contributed to a 29 per cent increase in global sales with 260,300 units delivered in the first six months of the year, making Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Europe's leading manufacturer of light commercial vehicles.

About Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles:

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) is a German manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Originally part of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars company, it is now a separate brand and marque of the Volkswagen Group.

Full details of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range of vans, conversions, people carriers and pick-up are available by calling 0800 717131, or visiting the Volkswagen Vans website.

For more information, please contact:
John Rawlings
Press and Public Relations Manager
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Selecta Post 14
Sheffield
S97 3ZT
+44(0)1908-601478

http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

Electronic images are available to accompany this release from Newspress or vwpress.co.uk.