Volkswagen sees 25% growth in Middle East sales

Dubai Volkswagen has seen a 25 per cent growth in Middle East sales, while the manufacturer cuts back on expenses in other regions, top company officials said.

Hans-Heiner Tuting, executive director sales, CIS, Middle East and Africa, said that the impact of the global credit crisis had not been so severe on the industry.

Emerging market

"The general demand fell by 50 per cent but the Middle East was not hit so severely," he said.

The manufacturer saw sales of over 11,000 units in the region, a growth of 25 to 30 per cent from 2007, according to William Belair, regional sales manager of Volkswagen.

Despite the economic downturn, the manufacturer is expecting similar growth for next year, and aims to compete as a market leader in its long-term plans.

"We should be able to maintain a market share of a minimum five to seven per cent," Belair said.

"Our market share is not where we want it to be," Tuting said, adding that the company is concentrating their marketing efforts in the Middle East, as there is a "lot of development in this emerging market."