Group deliveries down 7 to 8.3 million vehicles
Q4 deliveries up 14.3, but challenges ahead for 2023
Premium brands performed better than massmarket ones

BERLIN, Jan 12 Reuters The Volkswagen Group reported its lowest sales in over a decade in 2022 as COVID19 lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine upended supply chains, and a fourthquarter recovery risks running into further challenges this year.

The German group, whose brands range from massmarket VWs and Skodas to premium Audis and Bentleys, said on Thursday it delivered 8.3 million vehicles to customers last year.

That indicates it will remain in second place globally for the third year in a row behind Japan39;s Toyota Group, which by November had already produced over 9.5 million cars.

Group sales rose 14.3 in the fourth quarter, but the outlook for 2023 remains clouded by weak economies and supply chain shortages, extended executive sales committee member Hildegard Wortmann said.

Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley weathered 2022 better than Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Skoda, with deliveries down around 4 at the premium brands and down 9 for massmarket vehicles.

Group deliveries fell 7 versus 2021.

Highend carmakers BMW BMWG.DE and MercedesBenz earlier this week also reported a smaller decline in sales than some massmarket rivals, with falls of 4.8 and 1 respectively.

Both BMW and MercedesBenz sales also picked up in the fourth quarter as supply chains improved and China relaxed its COVID19 policies, though…