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The global semiconductor bottlenecks particularly impacted on the business performance of the Volkswagen Group in the third quarter. Operating profit before special items came to EUR 2.8 (3.2) billion in the period from July to September, a drop compared with the first two quarters of this year and the pandemic-related weak prior-year period. The operating return on sales before special items declined to 4.9 (5.4) percent in the third quarter. The volume brands were affected most in this period, recording operating losses in spite of having full order books. Owing to the semiconductor shortage, the high level of customer demand in China could also not be met. In the first nine months of the year, the Group’s brands lifted deliveries to customers by 6.9 percent to 7.0 (6.5) million vehicles. Sales revenue saw a more significant increase, rising by 20.0 percent in the same period to EUR 187 (155) billion. Due to the strong first half, operating profit before special items, which stood at EUR 14.2 (2.4) billion after nine months, remained at a solid level and exceeded the pandemic-related weak prior-year figure. The operating return on sales was 7.6 (1.5) percent. The Automotive Division achieved an adjusted net cash flow of EUR 12.4 (4.5) billion by the end of September, thus contributing substantially to the financing of the Group’s transformation. Despite the impact on working capital caused by the semiconductor shortage, adjusted net cash flow for the third quarter was slightly positive at EUR 33 million. Net liquidity in the Automotive Division fell by EUR 9.4 billion compared with the first six months to a still robust level of EUR 25.6 billion. Here, the Navistar transaction completed by July had a perceptible effect of around EUR 6 billion. In addition, a dividend of EUR 2.4 billion was distributed to Volkswagen shareholders in the third quarter. The Volkswagen Group confirmed its outlook for the operating return on sales for full year 2021 of 6.0 to 7.5 percent.

Volkswagen Group’s Q3 result down year-on-year due to semiconductor bottlenecks – profitability tar-get for 2021 confirmed
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