Volkswagen quarterly deliveries fall 14.3% as China weakens

what happened

ShareCast reports that Volkswagen supplied 1.89m vehicles worldwide from July through September, versus 2.2m a year earlier, a 14.3% decline. Deliveries in China dropped to 405,800 from 660,300. The German group attributed the setback to a pronounced contraction in the Chinese market, particularly for vehicles powered by internal-combustion engines.

North American deliveries decreased 5.8% year on year, while Western Europe declined 2.8% and South America fell 2.4%. Central and Eastern Europe moved against the broader trend, recording 1.4% growth. Deliveries by Volkswagen Passenger Cars fell 19.3%, Audi dropped 19.7% and Porsche declined 15%; Škoda edged 0.2% higher.

Worldwide battery-electric vehicle deliveries slipped 4.7% to 240,200, despite a 19.6% increase in Europe. US deliveries plunged 86.4%, which Volkswagen linked to the end of government subsidies and the impact of import tariffs. Europe provided a brighter spot: fully electric models represented about 40% of the company’s order book, while orders for the newly launched Electric Urban Car Family approached 150,000.

Across the first nine months of 2026, group deliveries fell 9% to 6.01m vehicles, including a 30.2% decline in China. Sales chief Martin Sander described the sharp contraction of China’s overall market as an industry-wide challenge, while saying newly developed electric models were starting to gain traction. Volkswagen also said deliveries of electrified vehicles in China increased by approximately 30% during the third quarter, driven by demand for plug-in hybrids and range-extender vehicles. At 1442 BST, Volkswagen shares were 0.6% higher at €68.85 in Frankfurt.

why it matters

The figures underline a widening regional split: China and the US weakened sharply, while European electric-vehicle demand improved. That mix is relevant to Volkswagen’s sales composition and the broader auto sector.

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