Volkswagen Group’s Resilience in 2025: A Comprehensive Overview
In a year marked by intense competition and significant market fluctuations, the Volkswagen Group has demonstrated remarkable resilience, achieving stable sales figures projected at around 9 million vehicles for 2025. CEO Oliver Blume emphasized the company’s commitment to innovating its product lineup while tackling the backdrop of a challenging market environment. The group’s diverse offerings across all brands and powertrains have been pivotal in sustaining strong sales performance, despite external pressures.
Robust Performance Against Market Adversity
Volkswagen Group navigated through a particularly tough landscape in 2025, influenced by various factors such as fierce competition in China and changing tariff policies in the United States. Despite anticipating potential downturns, initial reports indicated a slight decline of 0.5% compared to the previous year. The group still achieved notable successes: Europe reported a significant 4% increase, along with a remarkable 12% rise in South America, both contributing to bolstering the overall global figures. Conversely, the North American market saw a drop of 10%, with a notable decrease in sales in China, dropping by 8% due to prevailing economic challenges.
In Europe, Volkswagen Group expanded its market share to an all-time high of approximately 25%, attributed to competitive models like the Volkswagen T-Roc and Tiguan, which led their respective growth segments. In South America, the introduction of new models, such as the Volkswagen Tera, which saw sales exceeding 56,000 units in its launch year, positively impacted overall sales figures.
Growth in Electric Vehicle Sales
The push toward electric vehicles (EVs) continues to accelerate, with Volkswagen Group reporting a staggering 32% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales, reaching nearly 983,100 units globally. This surge reflects a broader 11% increase in the proportion of BEVs sold compared to the previous year, bolstering Volkswagen's position as a leader in the European BEV market with about 27% market share. The Group celebrated significant growth in BEV sales, particularly in Europe where a 66% increase contrasted with a planned decrease in China as the company prepared to roll out new locally developed EVs.
Volkswagen Group’s commitment to electrification is further evidenced by the 58% increase in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), underscoring a trend as consumers shift towards more sustainable transport solutions. The strong demand for the latest second-generation PHEVs, capable of electric-only ranges of up to 143 km, also highlights the group's strategic alignment with market incentives.
Performance by Region
1.
Europe: A notable 4.5% increase in vehicle sales resulted in 3.94 million units sold, with marked growth in both Western (3.8%) and Central/Eastern (9.0%) Europe. Germany, the group’s biggest market, reported an increase of 5.6%.
2.
North America: Here, the sales volume fell by 10.4% to approximately 946,800 units, primarily due to the declining sales in the U.S. attributed to stringent market conditions.
3.
South America: This region emerged as the fastest-growing market with an 11.6% increase, totaling 663,000 units sold, driven by a solid performance in Brazil (5.7%).
4.
Asia-Pacific: Sales in this region dipped by 6.5% to 3.01 million units, with a notable decrease of 8.0% attributed to continuing intense competition in China.
Exciting Future Ahead
Looking toward 2026, Volkswagen Group plans to unveil over 20 new models, continuing its push for competitive dominance and innovation in vehicle production. The introduction of revolutionary electric vehicles and a focus on developing the 'Electric Urban Car Family' is set to contribute significantly to future sales. Overall, with innovative technology and attractive product lines, Volkswagen Group is strategically positioned to meet the changing demands of consumers while solidifying its place as a market leader in the automotive industry.
In summary, the Volkswagen Group's ability to maintain stable sales figures in 2025 while addressing significant market challenges illustrates its strong footing in the automotive landscape. By focusing on innovation and a broad product strategy in both traditional and electric vehicles, the group is poised for success in the approaching year.