|
That
figure should put VW ahead of Japanese rival Toyota as the
world's largest car producer by volume.
VW sales are proving resilient despite the diesel emissions
scandal which has plunged the company into crisis since it came
to light in September 2015.
VW faces a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and
Environmental Protection Agency seen potentially costing as much
as $4 billion to resolve civil and criminal investigations into
the scandal, which sources have told Reuters could be announced
as soon as Wednesday.
On Monday, the company suffered a fresh setback when an
executive was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United
States over the diesel emissions cheating and the company was
accused of concealing the matter from regulators.
Despite those challenges, however, VW on Tuesday reported a
strong finish to 2016.
December deliveries including its Audi and Porsche luxury brands
rose to 933,300 vehicles from 834,700 a year earlier, with
double-digit gains in China and the United States offsetting
declines in Germany and Brazil.
Its full-year deliveries rose 3.8 percent from 9.93 million in
2015, the company said.
Toyota said last month it expected to end 2016 with sales of
10.09 million vehicles, slightly below an initial forecast of
10.11 million. [nL4N1EA2NK]
The Japanese rival, which has topped delivery rankings for the
past four years but trailed VW at mid-year, is expected to
report its 2016 deliveries in early February.
NordLB analyst Frank Schwope expects VW to be able to keep the
world top carmaker crown this year but said the gap with rivals
may shrink as demand in China, which accounts for nearly 40
percent of VW group sales, may weaken because of plans to reduce
or phase out tax breaks for small engine cars.
"VW is heavily exposed to possible setbacks in China," said
Schwope who has a "Hold" recommendation on VW shares.
(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; editing by Jason Neely and Keith
Weir)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
