For the first time Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivers more than 500,000 vehicles worldwide in 2008

-Worldwide deliveries rose by 2.9 percent
-The market leadership in Europe has been extended

Hanover, 12th January 2009: For the first time in the company´s history, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has delivered more than half a million commercial vehicles in 2008. With 503,025 commercial vehicles delivered to customers, the brand increased its numbers by 2.9 percent compared to the previous year (2007: 488,726).
"Despite the difficult market trends in the second six months of the year we have achieved the best ever sales level in the history of our company, which we can be proud of, and rightly so," says Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The brand achieved increases especially in its main markets of Europe and South America.

The T5 family was again the most sold product (Transporter and Multivan) resulting in 178,000 deliveries (2007: 191,200). The Caddy achieved a delivery result of 151,570 vehicles (2007:147,130). The Crafter also continued its positive development with 51,100 deliveries (2007: 46,160).

The models Saveiro and T2, manufactured in Brazil, rose to a total of 67,270 units (2007: 57,440). In 2008, the Truck & Bus category delivered 45,780 trucks (2007: 38.820) and 9,280 buses (2007: 7,960).

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was able to further extend its market leadership in Europe delivering 332,372 light commercial vehicles and gaining an increase of 1.1 percent (2007: 328,766). The most important markets next to Germany, which had 124,850 deliveries, (increase of 2.3 percent) were in particular France (increase of 5.3 percent) and Italy (increase of 14.3 percent). In Central and East Europe, the deliveries rose by 22 percent to approximately 49,000 vehicles.

In South America deliveries rose by 18.6 percent to 119,100 light and heavy commercial vehicles delivered (2007: 100.440). In the main market of Brazil, 105,620 units were delivered – a rise of 23.7 percent compared to the previous year (85,370).

Harald Schomburg, member of the brand board of management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for sales and marketing: "Our customers continue to trust in the competence of our brand and models in these economically difficult times. This trust will also be our competitive advantage in the difficult year that lies ahead of us."

"Of course, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles cannot avoid the changed economic environment," emphasises Schaller. "However, we are holding on to our long-term goal of selling 750,000 light commercial vehicles in the year 2018." The new pick-up, further new products and the entry into new markets will continue to strengthen the course of the profitable growth of the brand in the coming years.