VW annual report claims good sales, profits

Berlin (CNS) – Volkswagen Group (VW Group), Europe's largest automaker, issued its 2011 annual report on March 12. In 2011, it earned profits of 16 billion euros on international markets, 60 percent up over the 2010 figure, and showed an annual output value of 159 billion euros, a record high.

According to the report, VW vehicles saw an average sales increase of 14 percent on international markets last year, and harvested even higher sales growth in emerging countries. The sales growth jumped nearly 40 percent in South Africa, 18 percent in Mexico, and 100 percent in India.

Asia continued to be an important market for VW luxury cars last year, where sales of the Audi sedan were much higher than other makes. In China, 1800 of Bentley's luxury models were sold last year, double the number sold in 2010.

Healthy sales and profits also brought solid benefits to its top management and employees. Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn made a personal income of 175 million euros, the highest salary of all European CEOs. Employees in its German plants also got an annual bonus of 7,500 euros each.