Report on Expected Developments
The global economy is expected to grow somewhat less strongly in 2018 than in the previous year. We assume that trends in global demand for vehicles will be mixed and that demand will increase at a slightly slower rate than in the reporting period. With its brand diversity, broad product range and pioneering technologies and services, the Volkswagen Group is well prepared for the future challenges in the mobility business and the mixed conditions in regional markets.
In the following, we describe the expected development of the Volkswagen Group and the general framework for its business activities. Risks and opportunities that could represent a departure from the forecast trends are presented in the Report on Risks and Opportunities.
Our assumptions are based on current estimates by third-party institutions. These include economic research institutes, banks, multinational organizations and consulting firms.