Volkswagen, which many industry experts expect to pass General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) as the world’s largest car company within the next few years, showed that its prospects to do so are promising. The Germany firm announced:

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand began the year with a rise in vehicle deliveries: The company handed over 491,900 (January 2012: 419,100) models to customers worldwide, an increase of 17.4 percent over the comparable prior-year period.

Why?

Developments outside Europe were more positive. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries to 43,800 (39,600; +10.6 percent) units. The brand handed over 29,000 (27,200) vehicles to customers in the United States, the region’s largest single market, representing an increase of 6.7 percent. Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 63,100 (64,300; -2.0 percent) vehicles in the South America region, of which 46,100 (43,800; +5.1 percent) units were handed over in Brazil.

The brand reported a substantial 43.7 percent increase in January in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 251,100 (174,700) vehicles there, of which 235,000 (159,900; +47.0 percent) units were delivered in China (incl. Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. The date for the Chinese New Year was again set in February and as a result of this special situation, deliveries in January were noticeably higher than for the same month last year; however, a decline in deliveries is expected for February. In India, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 4,600 (5,800; -19.9 percent) vehicles in January.

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