VOW3 Volkswagen AG

By Jessica Sier

The Volkswagen Group recorded a massive drop in European sales for March, due to the widespread damage caused by the coronavirus, the company said Friday.

The German car maker sold 623,000 vehicles worldwide in March, a 38% fall from the same period last year.

In China, including Hong Kong, sales fell 36%, and in Western Europe sales fell as much as 45%.

In the first three months of 2020, Volkswagen sales fell by 23% to 2 million vehicles.

Elsewhere, the company saw falling sales. North American sales slumped 42%, while in South America they fell 24%.

The widespread drop in sales has been as a result of plant closures and the global collapse in demand owing to the coronavirus spread, the company said.

Among all of Volkswagen Group's brands, Volkswagen AG and Audi AG each recorded a 38% drop. Skoda Auto a.s. plunged by almost 37%, while SEAT S.A. fell by as much as 43%. Commercial vehicles also all recorded losses, led by Scania AB with a 33% fall.

Write to Jessica Sier at jessica.sier@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 17, 2020 06:33 ET (10:33 GMT)

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