NEWS EXTRA

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ASSIGNMENTS / APPOINTMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Volkswagen Group delivers over nine million vehicles in period to November for first time

 SOURCE:  Volkswagen Group

• 9.08 million Units handed over from Jan. to Nov. / +4.6 percent*
• 834,800 vehicles delivered in November / +0.7 percent*
• Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler: “Deliveries on track. Ten million mark within reach.”

Wolfsburg  – The Volkswagen Group delivered over nine million vehicles from January to November for the first time ever this year. 9.08 (January-November 2013: 8.68; +4.6 percent)* million vehicles were handed over to customers worldwide. The company delivered 834,800 (November 2013: 828,900; +0.7 percent)* vehicles in November. “Deliveries by the Volkswagen Group remain on track during the last few weeks of the year. The ten million mark is within reach in spite of all the uncertainties in the global automotive sector”, said Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler.

Group brands delivered a total of 3.55 (3.36; +5.7 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market in the period to November, of which 1.83 (1.70; +7.7 percent) million units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 1.12 (1.07; +5.0 percent) million customers took possession of a new vehicle in the home market of Germany, while the company delivered 590,900 (583,600; +1.3 percent) vehicles in Central and Eastern Europe. 240,700 (276,200; -12.9 percent) models were handed over to customers in Russia.

The Group delivered 807,700 (807,800) vehicles in the North America region from January to November, of which 542,600 (557,000; -2.6 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. The Volkswagen Group delivered 667,900 (831,600; -19.7 percent) vehicles in the South America region during the same period, of which 522,000 (620,000; -15.8 percent) were handed over to customers in Brazil.

The Group continued to record encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 3.67 (3.29; +11.7 percent) million vehicles were handed over to customers in the period to November, of which 3.34 (2.96; +12.9 percent) million units were delivered in China, the Group’s largest single market.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.59 (5.48; +2.0 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to November. The brand continued to develop well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 2.72 (2.46; +10.6 percent) million units there. The brand grew deliveries on the overall European market to 1.54 (1.51; +2.4 percent) million units.

Audi delivered 1.59 (1.44; +10.1 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide in the period to November. The premium brand developed well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 608,100 (522,400; +16.4 percent) models to customers there. Audi delivered 196,800 (170,500) vehicles in the North America region during the same period, an increase of 15.5 percent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche delivered a total of 169,200 (147,300; +14.9 percent) vehicles from January to November. Demand for models from the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, where 54,400 (45,100; +20.5 percent) vehicles were delivered, and on the overall European market, where 54,500 (46,000; +18.3 percent) models were handed over to customers.

ŠKODA delivered 955,300 (850,700; +12.3 percent) vehicles to customers in the eleven-month period. The Czech automaker handed over 634,900 (566,600) vehicles to customers on the overall European market, an increase of 12.1 percent. ŠKODA also grew deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region, where 271,100 (244,000; +11.1 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers.

SEAT delivered 359,400 (324,500; +10.7 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to November. Deliveries on the overall European market increased to 302,300 (265,500; +13.9 percent) units. SEAT also grew deliveries in Germany, where the company handed over 78,500 (70,900; +10.8 percent) models to customers, and in Central and Eastern Europe, where 22,700 (15,400; +47.1 percent) units were delivered.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles handed over 401,400 (419,300;-4.3 percent) vehicles to customers from January to November, of which 297,700 (284,500; +4.6 percent) units were delivered on the overall European market. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also recorded growth in the Asia-Pacific region, where the company handed over 20,300 (18,800; +7.7 percent) vehicles to customers.

*) excluding MAN and Scania

Flag Officer Assignment

SOURCE:  DOD

Mexico bans wild animals in circuses!

SOURCE: ADI Media

In a huge victory for animals, Mexico has passed legislation banning the use of wild animals in circuses, becoming the 29th nation to introduce an animal circus prohibition. Animal Defenders International (ADI) is heralding the victory as one of the biggest ever breakthroughs in the campaign to end the use of animal in traveling circuses.

Senator Jorge Emilio González Martínez (PVEM) proposed the measure last year as an amendment to Mexico’s environmental and wildlife law, General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection. Those found guilty of committing an offence under the new legislation face huge fines of 50 to 50,000 times the minimum wage – the equivalent of nearly $230,000. The Green Party in Mexico has asked ADI to begin highlighting the law throughout Mexico.

As abuse has been exposed in circuses, legislation has begun to sweep the world.  A two-year undercover investigation by ADI in South American circuses has been key in securing bans in nine Latin American countries.

Jan Creamer, President of ADI, who is at present in Peru overseeing the rescue operation to enforce the wild animal ban there, says: “The ban in Mexico is a landmark in ending the suffering abuse of animals in the name of entertainment.  The world is changing and we are seeing progressive legislation to end the use of wild animals in circuses sweeping the world. Surely it is time for countries like Britain and United States to catch up and do the same.”

The following video narrative is in Spanish.

PHOTO(s) OF THE DAY

SOURCE:  Department of Defense /Defense News Lead Photo

Wreaths lay on every head stone of military service members in Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 13. Thousands of volunteers gathered to lay wreaths on the head stones of military service members resting in Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Air force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel performs the opening coin toss during the 115th Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 13. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)