VW Group First Half 2026 Deliveries Decline Despite European EV Growth

Volkswagen Group released its delivery performance for the first half of 2026 on July 10, reporting global deliveries of 4,125,700 vehicles. This represented a 6.3% year-on-year decline as weaker market conditions in China continued to weigh on overall performance. The significant reduction in Chinese deliveries was only partly balanced by healthy growth across Europe and Brazil, while North America experienced a modest decline despite showing signs of improvement during the second quarter.

Regional Delivery Performance Across Major Markets

During the first six months of 2026, deliveries in China fell by 25.9% compared with the previous year, making it the largest contributor to the Group's global decline. Europe delivered a stronger performance with a 3.5% year-on-year increase, while South America achieved growth of 8.3%, supported largely by robust demand in Brazil. North America recorded a comparatively smaller decline of 3.1% year-on-year, although the region demonstrated a gradual recovery trend during the second quarter. Meanwhile, deliveries across the Asia-Pacific region declined by 24.0% because of persistent softness in the Chinese market.

Brand Performance During the First Half of 2026

Sales performance varied considerably across the Group's major brands. Skoda delivered the strongest improvement, increasing deliveries by 9.1% year-on-year. In contrast, Porsche recorded a decline of 16.5%, while VW Passenger Cars experienced a 10.9% reduction. Audi also reported lower deliveries, decreasing by 7.2% compared with the same period last year. These mixed results reflected varying regional demand and market conditions across the Group's global portfolio.

Volkswagen Group Brand Delivery Performance

Electric Vehicle and Electrified Powertrain Results

Battery electric vehicle deliveries reached 438,500 units during the first half of 2026, representing a 5.8% year-on-year decline. The reduction was primarily caused by steep decreases of 68.8% in the United States and 47.9% in China. Despite these challenges, Europe maintained positive momentum with BEV deliveries increasing by 8.4% year-on-year, allowing the Group to retain its leadership position in the regional electric vehicle market. The European BEV order book expanded by more than 50% compared with the end of 2025, supported by demand for newly introduced models including the ID. Polo, Skoda Epiq, and CUPRA Raval.

Demand for electrified powertrains continued to strengthen beyond battery electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrid and range extender vehicle deliveries increased by approximately 27% year-on-year to 246,000 units. In addition, the recently introduced Electric Urban Car Family generated strong customer interest, receiving more than 54,000 orders within only a few weeks of its market launch. These results indicate growing customer acceptance of multiple electrified vehicle technologies across key markets.

Outlook

Europe remained the primary growth engine for the Group during the reporting period, while South America also contributed meaningful gains, particularly in Brazil. Although ongoing weakness in China continued to affect overall global deliveries, Volkswagen Group improved its competitive position outside the Chinese market. The company expects additional momentum from newly launched electric vehicle models as they become available across important international markets, supporting future delivery performance despite continuing regional challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Volkswagen Group's global deliveries decline in the first half of 2026?
The Group's global deliveries declined by 6.3% year-on-year to 4,125,700 vehicles mainly because of a sharp 25.9% reduction in China. Although Europe and South America posted healthy growth, these gains were insufficient to fully offset the weakness in the Chinese market. North America also recorded a slight decline, while the Asia-Pacific region continued to be affected by softer demand, resulting in lower overall global delivery volumes during the reporting period.

How did Volkswagen Group's electric vehicle business perform in the first half of 2026?
Battery electric vehicle deliveries totaled 438,500 units, down 5.8% year-on-year due to significant declines in the United States and China. However, Europe remained a bright spot with BEV deliveries increasing by 8.4% and the Group maintaining regional leadership. The European order book grew by more than 50%, while plug-in hybrid and range extender deliveries increased approximately 27% to 246,000 units, demonstrating continued demand for electrified vehicles.