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FRANKFURT: German auto giant Volkswagen on Wednesday reported a forecast-beating rise in profits for 2023, boosted by higher vehicle deliveries, but gave a cautious outlook for this year.
Net profit rose 13.1% to €17.9 billion (US$19.6 billion) from the previous year. Sales rose more than 15% to €322.3 billion.
Analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet had forecast profits to come in at €15.7 billion, slightly lower than 2022.
In all, Volkswagen delivered some 9.2 million cars to customers in 2023, an improvement of 12%.
This was the first increase in deliveries following three straight years of declines, after production was disrupted by shortages of key components amid supply chain issues.
The auto giant’s units sold rose by 20% in Europe and in the North America region by 18%.
In China, sales also grew, but at a far more modest rate of 1.6%. The growth was slower than in the previous year and was the latest evidence that Volkswagen is losing ground in its most important market.
Volkswagen has fallen behind domestic competitors in China, losing its title as the best-selling auto brand to BYD.
The 10-brand group — whose models include Audi, Porsche and Skoda — last year singled out China and the US as key markets for its future growth, and it is also looking to increase profit margins.
Looking ahead, the German auto giant expects vehicle deliveries to advance in 2024, but by up to just 3%, due to tougher international competition and potential supply chain problems.
It warned of “persistently high inflation in major economic regions” as well as the “continuing geopolitical tensions and conflicts,” pointing to the Ukraine-Russia war and “confrontations in the Middle East”.
Volkswagen sold 771,000 battery-powered cars in 2023, 35% more than the previous year, but still only 8.3% of the group’s total sales.
The carmaker has ploughed huge sums into producing more electric vehicles but there have been concerns that this shift is stalling, amid low demand and a weak global economy.
In recent months, Volkswagen has flagged plans to reduce its workforce and also unveiled a €10 billion savings plan as it seeks to boost profitability and reboot the faltering electric shift.
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Its profit margins are languishing below its long-term target of between nine and 11%.
