Volkswagen profits tumble over emissions debacle

Volkswagen saw profits tumble by nearly a fifth at the start of 2016 as it continued to grapple with the fall-out from its global emissions scandal.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st May 2016, 15:54 BST
Updated 31st May 2016, 16:58 BST
Further drop in sales expected as year progressesFurther drop in sales expected as year progresses
Further drop in sales expected as year progresses

The group posted a 19.3% drop in pre-tax profits to f3.2 billion (£2.4bn) for the three months to the end of March, with revenues down 3.4%.

But chief executive Matthias Mueller insisted it was a “respectable” result, with operating profits edging 3.4% higher to f3.4bn (£2.6bn) from f3.3 bn (£2.5bn) a year earlier, boosted by one-off effects.

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He said: “In light of the wide range of challenges we are currently facing, we are satisfied overall with the start we have made to what will undoubtedly be a demanding fiscal year 2016.

“We once again managed to limit the economic effects of the diesel issue and achieve respectable results under difficult conditions.”

Volkswagen faces heavy costs for recalls and fixes to cars with engine-control software that evaded emissions tests.

The company has already earmarked £12.7bn to cover recalls and other costs for 11 million cars sold with the software globally.

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The group’s operating profits rose thanks in part to f300m (£229m) of currency gains on provisions put by to pay for its diesel emissions scandal.

Its first-quarter results revealed plummeting sales in Russia and Brazil due to economic woes, with revenues down 35% and 17% respectively.

Earnings slipped for its Audi brand to f1.3bn (£991 m) from f1.4bn (£1.1bn) a year earlier, but its Porsche business delivered a 14% rise in underlying operating profits to f895m (£683m).

VW confirmed previous guidance for the full year, with the group expecting sales to drop by up to 5% this year.

Related topics:VolkswagenBrazilPorscheRussia