The largest car producer in Europe.　The Volkswagen Group, based in Wolfsburg, is one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the world, and Europe's largest carmaker. In 2003, in a difficult econo...[+]

The largest car producer in Europe.　The Volkswagen Group, based in Wolfsburg, is one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the world, and Europe's largest carmaker. In 2003, in a difficult economic climate, the Group increased its deliveries to customers to 5.015 million vehicles (in 2002: 4.984 million), representing a 12.1 percent share of the world car market. In Western Europe, the world's largest car market, almost one in five new cars originates from the Volkswagen Group.　　Two brand groups: Volkswagen and Audi.　　The Group's passenger car business is split into two brand groups. Under the umbrella of the Group, Audi and Volkswagen manage their separate brand groups and are responsible for generating global earnings from them.　　The Audi brand group is made up of the Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini brands. The Volkswagen brand group includes the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Škoda, Bentley and Bugatti brands. Each brand has its own character, and operates autonomously on the market. The product range extends from ultra-economical compacts, delivering fuel consumption of just three litres per 100 kilometres, to luxury-class saloons. The Commercial Vehicles brand is responsible for the Group's commercial vehicle products.　　Regional control.　　The Group has established a control structure comprising four regions: Europe/Remaining Markets; North America; South America/South Africa; and Asia-Pacific. The Financial Services and Europcar business units are managed jointly under the Financial Services divisional umbrella.　　45 manufacturing facilities in 18 countries worldwide.　　The Group operates 45 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries in Europe and in a further seven countries in America, Asia and Africa. A workforce of over 336,000 people all around the globe produces over 21,500 vehicles per working day, as well as providing vehicle-related services. The Volkswagen Group's models are sold in more than 150 countries.　　The aim of the Group is to offer attractive, safe, environmentally friendly vehicles which are competitive on increasingly tough markets and represent the global benchmark in their respective classes.[-]