Our planning is based on the assumption that global economic output will grow overall in 2024 at a similar pace as in 2023. The persistently high, albeit declining, inflation in major economic regions and the resulting restrictive monetary policy measures taken by central banks are expected to dampen consumer demand. However, we anticipate a gradual reduction in the key interest rates by Western central banks during the current year, which should have a bolstering effect on overall demand. We continue to believe that risks will arise from protectionist tendencies, turbulence in the financial markets and structural deficits in individual countries. In addition, contin uing geopolitical tensions and conflicts are weighing on growth prospects; risks are associated in particular with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the confrontations in the Middle East. We assume that on average both the advanced economies and the group of emerging markets will show positive momentum at the level of the previous year.
The trend in the automotive industry closely follows global economic developments. We assume that compe tition in the international automotive markets will intensify further. Crisis-related disruption to the global supply chain and the resulting impact on vehicle availability may weigh on the volume of new registrations. Uncertainty may also arise from shortages of intermediates and commodities. These may be further exacerbated by the conse quences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the confrontations in the Middle East and may, in particular, lead to rising prices for materials and a declining availability of energy.
We predict that trends in the markets for passenger cars in the individual regions will be mixed but predomi nantly positive in 2024. Overall, the global volume of new car sales is expected to be similar to the prior-year figure. For 2024, we anticipate that the volume of new passenger car registrations in Western Europe will likewise be on a similar level to 2023. In the German passenger car market, we also expect the volume of new registrations in 2024 to match the prior-year level. Sales of passenger cars in 2024 are expected to significantly exceed the prior year figures overall in markets in Central and Eastern Europe – subject to the further development of the Russia Ukraine conflict. The volume of sales in the markets for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (up to 6.35 tonnes) in North America in 2024 is forecast to be slightly higher than the level seen the previous year. We also anticipate a slight increase in new registrations in the South American markets in 2024 compared with the previous year. The passenger car markets in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be on a level with the prior year figure in 2024.
Trends in the markets for light commercial vehicles in the individual regions will be mixed; on the whole, we expect the sales volume for 2024 to be slightly below the previous year’s figure.
For 2024, we expect to see a slight downward trend in new registrations for mid-sized and heavy trucks with a gross weight of more than six tonnes compared with the previous year in the markets that are relevant for the Volkswagen Group, with variations from region to region. A slight year-on-year increase in demand is anticipated for 2024 in the bus markets relevant for the Volkswagen Group, whereby this will vary depending on the region.
We assume that automotive financial services will prove highly important to global vehicle sales in 2024. In a challenging market environment, we anticipate that deliveries to customers by the Volkswagen Group will come in at around 9 million vehicles in 2024. Challenges will arise in particular from the economic situation, the increasing intensity of competition, volatile commodity, energy and foreign exchange markets, and more stringent emissions-related requirements.
We expect the sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group in 2024 to reach around €320 billion and the Passenger Cars Business Area to achieve sales revenue of around €210 billion. The Group’s operating result is expected to be in the range of approximately €18 billion and the operating result for the Passenger Cars Business Area should be around €10 billion. For the Commercial Vehicles Business Area, we anticipate an operating return on sales of 8.5% to 9.5% amid a year-on-year increase of up to 5% in sales revenue. In the Power Engineering Business Area, we expect sales revenue to be up to 6% above the prior-year figure and operating profit to be in the low three-digit million euro range. For the Financial Services Division, we forecast an increase of 3–7% in sales revenue compared with the prior year and an operating result in the range of €3.2 billion.
In the Automotive Division, we are assuming an investment ratio of between 13.5% and 14.5% in 2024. We expect net cash flow in 2024 to be around €2.0 billion. This will include in particular investments for the future and cash outflows from mergers and acquisitions, which are a vital pillar of the Volkswagen Group’s transformation. Net liquidity in the Automotive Division in 2024 is expected to be between €36 billion and €37 billion. Our goal remains unchanged, namely, to continue with our robust financing and liquidity policy.
Wolfsburg, October 30, 2024