Volkswagen's sales climbed 5.8 percent in December to 32,047, despite a continuing slide in car sales, while its yearly total grew 4.2 percent to 354,064. Audi sales fell for a third consecutive month, down 16% in December to 22,765.
For the year, the brand — which capped a 109-month growth streak in September — finished down 1.4 percent to 223,323.
Audi blamed ongoing issues with vehicle certification under the new European WLTP standards for delaying delivery of some 2019 model year vehicles, along with a tightening market overall.
Brands: Volkswagen up 5.8% in December; Audi down 16%. For the full year: VW up 4.2%, Audi off 1.4%.
Notable nameplates: Volkswagen Jetta, up 42% in December; Golf family, down 46%; Atlas up 11%; Tiguan up 5.9%; Audi A4 down 56%; A6 up 55%; Q5 up 8.1%; Q7 down 17%
Incentives (including Porsche): $4,121 per vehicle, up 9.2% from a year earlier, ALG says
Average transaction price (including Porsche): $37,775, down 1.6% from a year earlier, according to ALG
Quote: "In order to have success in this business, you can't just sit on the fast ball, sit on one successful vehicle. We're working very hard on two or three, building a place — with Jetta, with Tiguan, with Atlas — to have three strong volume products going to market," said Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
Did you know? The Volkswagen Tiguan posted annual sales of 103,022 for the year, tops for any vehicle in Volkswagen's U.S. lineup, and making 2018 the first time since 1985 that a nameplate other than the Jetta sedan has been the brand's top seller in the United States.
