Business · Companies · 18 hrs ago
Study says Volkswagen earns just €12 per car after special charges
Volkswagen earned an estimated €12 for each car sold, according to a study by the Center of Automotive Management.
The figure reflects €8.7 billion in special charges, which the study says made the result look worse than the company’s ongoing business.
Volkswagen’s adjusted profit margin was 3.8%, but the study says it still needs to lower costs and improve earnings to stay competitive over the long term.
The pressure extends across the car industry: after nine months, automakers had an average return of 3.6%, down from 4% a year earlier.
Two-thirds of the companies made less profit, while the average profit per car fell to €1,363 from €1,409.
The study says the industry needs to focus its transformation on profitable innovation and more efficient structures.
Volkswagen earned only €12 per vehicle sold, according to a study by the Center of Automotive Management.
The study said one-off costs totaling €8.7 billion were a major factor in the figure.
Volkswagen’s adjusted margin was 3.8%, which the study said showed the company still needed to improve costs and earnings.
Across the car industry, the average profit per vehicle was €1,363 after nine months, down from €1,409 a year earlier.
Two-thirds of the companies studied recorded lower profits.
- Who
- Volkswagen, according to a study by the Center of Automotive Management.
- What
- The study estimated Volkswagen earned €12 per vehicle sold, with one-off costs weighing heavily on the result.
- When
- The study was published on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- One-off costs totaling €8.7 billion were a major factor in Volkswagen’s low reported earnings per vehicle.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- VW earnings per vehicle
- €12
- One-off costs
- €8.7 billion
- VW adjusted margin
- 3.8%
- Industry average profit per vehicle
- €1,363 after nine months
- Companies with lower profits
- Two-thirds of those studied
4 sources
What people are saying
When profit falls almost six times more sharply than revenue, that is an alarm signal for the industry.
The zero margin paints an overly negative picture of ongoing business.