AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)06/15 Report--

Since May, under the basically controlled environment of epidemic situation in China, the automobile market has also achieved the first wholesale positive growth after 22 months, so as to help many mainstream brands achieve sales growth, including Volkswagen brands.

According to Volkswagen, the cumulative sales volume of Volkswagen Group in the global market in May was 609,400 vehicles, down 34% year-on-year, and the proportion of sharp decline also reached all brands under Volkswagen Group declined to varying degrees. Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda saw sales decline by 30%, 22% and 42% respectively, while even the best-performing Porsche brand saw a 17.4% decline.

It can be said that the new crown epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to Volkswagen Group. Since the outbreak caused its factories to shut down, demand for the entire automobile industry has declined, while consumers have been forced to stay at home because of the global quarantine ban. As a result, its global market also experienced different degrees of decline, among which Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, North America and North and South car sales fell by 57%, 51%, 39% and 69% year-on-year respectively, only China achieved small positive growth signs.

Although China, the world's largest auto market and the initial outbreak of the new crown epidemic, accounted for nearly 40% of Volkswagen Group's sales volume, which also caused Volkswagen Group to suffer a sharp drop in sales volume at the beginning of the outbreak, with the short-term epidemic control, Volkswagen brand two joint ventures in China have rebounded significantly since March. Until May this year, although the two joint ventures appeared mixed situation, among which SAIC Volkswagen fell 15% and FAW-Volkswagen increased 22%, the cumulative performance of Volkswagen brand in China helped Volkswagen Group achieve positive year-on-year growth performance, and became the only region in Volkswagen Group's global market to achieve growth.

In terms of specific brands, Audi brand market share maintained growth compared with luxury brand Volkswagen brand and Skoda brand recovery, while Porsche brand developed at an above-average growth rate in China, becoming the single market with the highest delivery volume in the first quarter.

In this regard, Volkswagen will continue to expand its market layout in China. On May 28, Volkswagen Group announced a stake in Chinese car battery manufacturer Guoxuan Gaoke, holding about 26%, becoming the largest single shareholder of the company. In addition, Volkswagen also acquired half of Jiangqi Holdings, which is the first foreign investment involved in the mixed reform of China's state-owned automobile enterprises.

At the same time, Volkswagen, Audi brands will also launch a variety of models in China, to maintain the product offensive. Obviously, in the global epidemic spread environment, the world's major multinational car companies have increased the Chinese market, perhaps in the rest of the world without obvious signs of recovery, the importance of the Chinese market for larger car companies more prominent.

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