The 1st of September marked the 30th anniversary since the import and marketing of Volkswagens and Audis in Finland transferred to Kesko. Since 1977, VV-Auto has delivered a total of over 420,000 passenger and commercial vehicles to customers. VV-Auto's most popular model has been Volkswagen Golf, which has sold around 110,000 cars in Finland. The brand icon is Volkswagen Beetle whose import began in 1950. The legendary model is still going strong, with more than 200 VW Beetles delivered to customers this year.
"During these 30 years, the car trade has become important for Kesko and is characterised by strong development. Volkswagen, Audi and Seat, the brands represented by VV-Auto, have significantly increased their popularity in respective customer segments making the car trade one of Kesko's key business sectors," says Matti Halmesmäki, Kesko's President and CEO.
Volkswagen is the leading brand in diesel passenger cars. As a whole, Volkswagen was the second most popular passenger car brand in Finland last year and its market share was 10.3%. Audi's market share has developed favourably during the last few of years. In 2006, its market share was 3.3% and Audi reached the position of the most purchased premium passenger car. Seat imports transferred to VV-Auto in 1991. In 2007, the Seat sales have increased by about 80%.
During the last few years, VV-Auto has intensively invested in the development of its own retail network. Currently VV-Auto accounts for a rough third of all Volkswagen and Audi retail sales in Finland. VV-Auto is engaged in retailing and provides after-sales services in its own outlets in the Greater Helsinki area and Turku. In addition to its own retail outlets, VV-Auto operates a strong, nationwide dealer network. The biggest dealers are Autotalo Laakkonen Oy, Jyväskylän Autotarvike Oy, Käyttöauto Oy and Pörhön Autoliike Oy.
"We believe that in the coming years environmental aspects will play an increasingly important part as car selection criteria. Low emission levels will gain in importance and the number of diesel cars will increase. As much as 36.5% of the Volkswagen passenger cars sold this year were diesel-engined, says Pekka Lahti, President of VV-Auto Oy.
"The model ranges of the brands we represent are expanding intensively and we are confident that the sales of Volkswagens, Audis and Seats will developed positively. Also the Plussa products launched this spring by VV-Auto, i.e. Plussa Leasing, Plussa Finance and Plussa Insurance, have got off to a good start."
In 2006, VV-Auto's net sales totalled €789.1 million, representing an increase of 14.5% on the previous year. During 2007, the sales of the brands represented by VV-Auto have progressed well as a whole. In January-June, VV-Auto's net sales were €466.2 million, showing an increase of 3.2% over the previous year, regardless of the fact that the total passenger car market declined dramatically during the first part of the year.
Further information:
Matti Halmesmäki, President and CEO, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22201
Pekka Lahti, President, VV-Auto Group Oy, tel. +358 9 758 3211
Matti Halmesmäki, President and CEO, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22201
Pekka Lahti, President, VV-Auto Group Oy, tel. +358 9 758 3211
VV-Auto imports and markets Volkswagen and Audi passenger cars and Volkswagen commercial vehicles in Finland. VV-Auto is also engaged in car retailing and provides after-sales services in its own outlets in the Greater Helsinki area and in Turku. VV-Auto's subsidiary Auto-Span Oy imports and markets Seat passenger cars in Finland, Estonia and Latvia.
Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a retail specialist whose stores raise the quality of consumers' everyday lives by offering highly-appreciated products and services at competitive prices. Kesko operates in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia.