Volkswagen profits power ahead by 41%

German carmaker Volkswagen AG says its net profit increased 41% for 2012 to €21.7bn on a 21% rise in revenues.

Volkswagen said in a press release today ahead of its full-earnings next month that revenues were up to €192.7bn.

The number of vehicles delivered worldwide last year by the group topped nine million for the first time, rising 12.2% to nearly 9.3 million.

The company says it expects revenue to exceed last year’s level in 2013 but that, “given the ongoing uncertainty in the economic environment,” its aim is to match the 2012 level of operating profit.

Last year’s operating profit came in at €11.5bn , a 2.1 % increase over 2011.