started · updated
Volkswagen and German carmakers see profit drops as China and US sales slump
Volkswagen reported a 32.9% fall in net profit to €1.54 billion for April‑June 2026, with operating profit down 9.5% after a €500 million loss from halting ID.4 production in the United States. Sales in China fell 31.6% and deliveries in the United States slipped 7.4% in the first half of the year. The group cut its 2026 revenue forecast to a range of –3% to 0% while keeping the target operating margin at 4%‑5.5%. Volkswagen also announced a restructuring plan that could remove up to 50% of its model portfolio and involve up to 50,000 job cuts.
Mercedes‑Benz revised its 2026 outlook downward after a 30% decline in Chinese sales, reporting an adjusted EBIT of €909 million and an operating margin of 4% for the division. The group’s net profit rose 13.5% to about €1.09 billion despite lower revenues, and it now expects 2026 vehicle sales to be slightly below last year’s level.
Audi cut its revenue forecast for 2026 to €58‑63 billion and lowered its operating‑margin target by one percentage point as demand weakens in China and U.S. tariffs add pressure.
PwC data show that worldwide registrations of battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) reached 6.6 million in the first half of 2026, 9% higher than a year earlier, but growth slowed sharply. China’s registrations fell 5% to about 3.6 million, the United States saw a 22% drop to 460 000, while Europe recorded a 33% increase to roughly 1.6 million, lifting its market share to 22%.
Entities
Audi AG · China · ID.4 · Mercedes‑Benz Group AG · Oliver Blume · Porsche AG · United States · Volkswagen AG · Volkswagen Group
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] CEO Oliver Blume warned that up to 50,000 jobs could be eliminated at Volkswagen. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen's target operating margin remains 4%‑5.5%; the first‑half actual margin was 3.8%. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen reduced its 2026 revenue‑growth forecast to between –3 % and 0 %, from a prior range of 0 %‑+3 %. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen's operating profit fell 9.5 % due to a €500 million loss from halting ID.4 production in the United States. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen net profit for April‑June 2026 was €1.54 billion. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The order portfolio for fully electric vehicles in Europe doubled compared with the previous year. jurnalul.ro
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen deliveries in the United States dropped 7.4 % in the first six months of 2026. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr · siol.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Volkswagen sales in China declined 31.6 % in the first half of 2026. jurnalul.ro · siol.net · www.auto-moto.com · www.novasports.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Porsche posted an 8.9% operating margin for the second quarter.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Audi's after‑tax profit fell about 21 % in Q2 2026. www.stiripesurse.ro
- [● 2 SOURCES] Volkswagen's European order portfolio for fully electric vehicles doubled compared with the previous year. jurnalul.ro · www.auto-moto.com