Volkswagen reported a 14.3% decline in global vehicle deliveries in the third quarter of 2026, marking its sharpest drop in more than four years as weakening demand in China, its largest market, continued to weigh on sales.
The German automaker delivered 1.89 million vehicles during the quarter, according to figures reported on October 12. The decline highlights the pressure facing Volkswagen as competition intensifies in China and demand conditions remain challenging across key markets.
Deliveries in China fell 38.5% in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. The decline extended the automaker’s difficulties in a market that remains central to its global operations.
In the first nine months of 2026, Volkswagen’s deliveries in China fell 30.2%.
Martin Sander, a member of the group’s extended executive committee, said in a statement, “The sharp decline in the overall market in China remains an industry-wide challenge.”
The quarterly fall was Volkswagen’s steepest since the second quarter of 2022, when deliveries dropped 22.4%.
Volkswagen also recorded weaker deliveries in North America and Western Europe during the July-September period.
Deliveries fell 5.8% in North America and 2.8% in Western Europe. Central and Eastern Europe was an exception, with deliveries up 1.4% from the same quarter last year.
The latest figures place Volkswagen among German automakers reporting weaker sales in China. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz also reported declining deliveries last week, underscoring the challenges facing the country’s established foreign carmakers.
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Volkswagen’s global battery-electric vehicle deliveries fell about 5% in the third quarter, despite a nearly 20% increase in Europe.
The report says the overall decline reflected weaker demand in China and growing competition from domestic manufacturers.
The figures add to the pressure on Volkswagen as it navigates a difficult market environment across regions and vehicle categories. While electric vehicle deliveries increased in Europe, that growth was not enough to offset the broader weakness in other markets.
Falling demand in China remains a key challenge for the German automaker, with the latest quarterly figures showing how sharply conditions in its largest market have affected global deliveries.
The results also reflect broader difficulties for foreign automakers competing in China, where domestic manufacturers are intensifying competition.