Firm pays price of cheating scandal
VW takes sales hit following emissions scandal
Sales of Volkswagen vehicles in Britain dropped by a fifth in November, the first full month since the emissions scandal rocked the German company.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed 12,958 VW cars were registered in November, against 16,196 in the same month last year, a 20% fall.
Other VW Group marques were also hit, with Seat down 24%, Skoda down 11% and Audi down 4%. Only Bentley managed an increase, with sales up from 73 vehicles to 88.
The scandal over emissions cheating initially broke in September, when the carmaker admitted its cars were fitted with devices designed to cheat tests.
As many as 11 million cars fitted with the devices worldwide may have to be recalled.
About €10bn has been wiped from VW’s valuation and the group, which includes the Audi, Seat and Skoda brands, could face €30bn in legal bills, fines and modifying costs.
The VW Golf and the Audi A3 both stayed in the top ten most popular cars sold in the UK, but the VW Polo, which was the seventh best-selling car in October, has dropped off the list.
