Summary of business development and economic position

The Board of Management of Volkswagen AG considers business development and the economic position to have been strained. Especially the irregularities in the software used in certain diesel engines posed major challenges for the Company. In addition, the increasingly difficult conditions in the Brazilian, Chinese and Russian vehicle markets led to a decline in deliveries to customers compared with the previous year. Contrary to our original forecast, deliveries of 9.9 million vehicles (−2.0%) failed to exceed the 2014 level. Group sales revenue increased year-on-year, as forecasted, and was above the expected range – due to exchange rate effects, among other factors. In particular, the provisions recognized in connection with the diesel issue weighed on the Group’s operating result and operating return on sales; both figures were down significantly on the previous year and the forecast ranges. Excluding special items, the Group’s operating result was on a level with 2014, at €12.8 billion. The operating return on sales before special items was in the expected range, at 6.0%.

Sales revenue of the business areas was also up on the respective prior-year figure. While special items resulted in the operating result and the operating return on sales of the Passenger Cars Business Area falling short of the forecast ranges, the Commercial Vehicles/Power Engineering Business Area confirmed the forecast, despite special items from restructuring measures. The Financial Services Division’s operating result exceeded the previous year’s figure.

Although at 6.9% the ratio of capex to sales revenue in the Automotive Division was higher than in 2014, it was within the expected range. The Automotive Division’s net cash flow exceeded the prior year’s figure because of the sale of the shares in Suzuki. In addition, the successful placement of dual-tranche hybrid notes strengthened our capital base. The Automotive Division’s net liquidity was €6.9 billion higher at the end of the reporting period than at the end of December 2014. The decline in the operating result attributable to special items led to a significant decrease in the Automotive Division’s return on investment (ROI), which fell short of the minimum required rate of return on invested capital.

Volkswagen does not tolerate any infringements of rules or laws. The trust of our customers and the public is, and will remain, our most important asset. We will do everything within our power to prevent incidents of these kinds from reoccurring and commit ourselves fully to winning back all of the trust. Through our technologies, vehicles and services, we will contribute to shaping the future of mobility with courage and conviction.

The following table shows an overview of the targets set for the reporting period and the figures actually achieved.

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FORECAST VERSUS ACTUAL FIGURES

 

 

Actual 2014

 

Original Fore­cast for 2015

 

Adjusted Fore­cast for 2015

 

Actual 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deliveries to customers

 

10.1 million

 

moderate increase

 

on the prior-year level

 

€9.9 million

Volkswagen Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

€202.5 billion

 

increase up to 4%

 

increase up to 4%

 

€213.3 billion

Operating return on sales before special items

 

6.3%

 

5.5–6.5%

 

5.5–6.5%

 

6.0%

Operating return on sales

 

6.3%

 

5.5–6.5%

 

 

−1.9%

Operating result before special items

 

€12.7 billion

 

within the forecast range

 

within the forecast range

 

€12.8 billion

Operating result

 

€12.7 billion

 

within the forecast range

 

significant decline

 

€−4.1 billion

Passenger Cars Business Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

€143.6 billion

 

increase up to 4%

 

increase up to 4%

 

€149.7 billion

Operating return on sales

 

6.8%

 

6–7%

 

 

−4.7%

Operating result

 

€9.8 billion

 

within the forecast range

 

significant decline

 

€−7.0 billion

Commercial Vehicles/Power Engineering Business Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

€33.9 billion

 

increase up to 4%

 

increase up to 4%

 

€34.2 billion

Operating return on sales

 

2.8%

 

2–4%

 

2–4%

 

2.1%

Operating result

 

€0.9 billion

 

within the forecast range

 

within the forecast range

 

€0.7 billion

Financial Services Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

€24.9 billion

 

increase up to 4%

 

increase up to 4%

 

€29.4 billion

Operating result

 

€1.9 billion

 

on the prior-year level

 

on the prior-year level

 

€2.2 billion

Capex/sales revenue in the Automotive Division

 

6.5%

 

6−7%

 

6−7%

 

6.9%

Net cash flow in the Automotive Division

 

€6.1 billion

 

moderate decline

 

slight increase

 

€8.9 billion

Return on investment (ROI) in the Automotive Division

 

14.9%

 

9–14.9%

 

significant decline

 

−0.2%

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FIVE-YEAR REVIEW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume Data (thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle sales (units)

 

10,010

 

10,217

 

9,728

 

9,345

 

8,361

Germany

 

1,279

 

1,247

 

1,187

 

1,207

 

1,211

Abroad

 

8,731

 

8,970

 

8,541

 

8,137

 

7,150

Production (units)

 

10,017

 

10,213

 

9,728

 

9,255

 

8,494

Germany

 

2,681

 

2,559

 

2,458

 

2,321

 

2,640

Abroad

 

7,336

 

7,653

 

7,270

 

6,934

 

5,854

Employees (yearly average)

 

604

 

583

 

563

 

533

 

454

Germany

 

276

 

265

 

255

 

237

 

196

Abroad

 

329

 

318

 

308

 

296

 

258

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Data (in € million)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

213,292

 

202,458

 

197,007

 

192,676

 

159,337

Cost of sales

 

179,382

 

165,934

 

161,407

 

157,522

 

131,371

Gross profit

 

33,911

 

36,524

 

35,600

 

35,154

 

27,965

Distribution expenses

 

23,515

 

20,292

 

19,655

 

18,850

 

14,582

Administrative expenses

 

7,197

 

6,841

 

6,888

 

6,220

 

4,384

Net other operating income

 

−7,267

 

3,306

 

2,613

 

1,415

 

2,271

Operating result

 

−4,069

 

12,697

 

11,671

 

11,498

 

11,271

Financial result

 

2,767

 

2,097

 

757

 

13,989

 

7,655

Earnings before tax

 

−1,301

 

14,794

 

12,428

 

25,487

 

18,926

Income tax expense

 

59

 

3,726

 

3,283

 

3,606

 

3,126

Earnings after tax

 

−1,361

 

11,068

 

9,145

 

21,881

 

15,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of materials

 

143,700

 

132,514

 

127,089

 

122,450

 

104,648

Personnel expenses

 

36,268

 

33,834

 

31,747

 

29,504

 

23,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet (at December 31)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncurrent assets

 

236,548

 

220,106

 

202,141

 

196,457

 

148,129

Current assets

 

145,387

 

131,102

 

122,192

 

113,061

 

105,640

Total assets

 

381,935

 

351,209

 

324,333

 

309,518

 

253,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

88,270

 

90,189

 

90,037

 

81,995

 

63,354

of which: noncontrolling interests

 

210

 

198

 

2,304

 

4,313

 

5,815

Noncurrent liabilities

 

145,175

 

130,314

 

115,672

 

121,996

 

89,179

Current liabilities

 

148,489

 

130,706

 

118,625

 

105,526

 

101,237

Total equity and liabilities

 

381,935

 

351,209

 

324,333

 

309,518

 

253,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

13,679

 

10,784

 

12,595

 

7,209

 

8,500

Cash flows from investing activities attributable to operating activities

 

15,523

 

16,452

 

14,936

 

16,840

 

16,002

Cash flows from financing activities

 

9,068

 

4,645

 

8,973

 

13,712

 

8,316