Volkswagen of America posted its lowest June sales since 2011 while luxury sibling Audi notched another monthly record on surging crossover sales last month.
Slow sales continued at VW retailers as VW, governmental and consumer attorneys negotiated the sweeping $15 billion package for VW diesel violation settlements announced Tuesday. Deliveries fell 22 percent to 23,809 vehicles. VW sales were down 15 percent through the first half of 2016.
VW has been unable to shake the slide amid its diesel emissions scandal, which froze sales of new diesels last September when the EPA announced the company’s violation of emissions rules. Slumping passenger car sales industrywide compounded those challenges, putting its car-heavy lineup at a disadvantage. VW’s top-sellers, the Jetta compact and Passat midsize sedans, fell by 19 percent combined in June.
Dealers are eagerly anticipating the fall arrival of the VW Golf Alltrack, a more rugged, all-wheel-drive version of the Golf viewed as a Subaru conquest vehicle. VW’s critical midsize crossover, a three-row family hauler targeting the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander, goes on sale in the first quarter of 2017, followed by a larger, redesigned Tiguan compact crossover.
In the meantime, the Tiguan has been VW’s consistent source of good news. Sales gained 18 percent in June and are up 50 percent in the first half of 2016.
Audi crossovers drive June sales
Audi’s Q3, Q5 and Q7 crossover trio meanwhile has let it capitalize on the industry’s booming crossover sales.
Combined sales of the Q model line jumped 29 percent last month, overcoming lower sales posted by Audi's car nameplates, except the low-volume R8 and TT.
The luxury brand sold 18,445 last month for a 1 percent gain, extending to five and a half years its streak of consecutive monthly sales records.
“Consumer demand for our SUVs is driving record sales,” Audi of America COO Mark Del Rosso said in a statement. “As we enter the summer selling season, we are certain that the outstanding performance of the dealer network will result in another successful year.”
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