WOLFSBURG, Germany -

Volkswagen Group can rattle off a long list of positive attributes about its 2010 fiscal year performance, but most important is record profits.

The automaker revealed last week its operating profit surged to 7.1 billion euro based on sales revenue of 126.9 billion euro. In 2009, the company still hit triple digits in revenue (105.2 billion euro), but its operating profit was just $1.9 billion euro.

Not surprisingly, Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Volkswagen’s board of management, cheered the automaker’s profit level.

“Fiscal year 2010 was the best year in the history of the Volkswagen Group,” Winterkorn declared.

“Volkswagen already provided impressive proof of its robustness during the crisis and our group is now following that up by leading the field during the economic recovery as well,” he continued.

“Our broad and environmentally-friendly model range coupled with our financial strength and the clear strategic orientation of our multi-brand group have contributed to this success,” Winterkorn went on to say.

Beyond the profit figure, Volkswagen determined its worldwide deliveries topped the 7-million mark for the first time. The automaker delivered 7.2 million vehicles, a 13.7-percent jump from its 2009 level.

Meanwhile, the OEM reported its year-over-year sales jump around the globe was 15.4 percent. The company also reported that it increased production year-over-year by 21.5 percent.

To handle those demands, Volkswagen indicated it expanded its worldwide work force by 8.4 percent last year, increasing the headcount from 368,500 to 399,381.

Volkswagen revealed a dividend to shareholders of 2.20 euro per ordinary share and 2.26 euro per preferred share.

VW’s Bright Outlook for 2011

Management predicted its sales revenue and operating profit should be even higher in 2011. However, Volkswagen conceded that continuing volatility in interest and exchange rate trends and commodities prices might weaken any volume gains.

Nevertheless, Volkswagen believes its key competitive advantages are its unique brand portfolio and its continually growing presence in all key regions of the world.

“Thanks to our expertise in technology and design, we have a diverse, attractive and environmentally friendly range of products that meets all customer desires and needs,” automaker officials stressed.

“In addition, the modular toolkit system, which we are continually optimizing, will have an increasingly positive effect on the group’s cost structure,” they continued. “In 2011, the Volkswagen Group’s nine brands will once again introduce a large number of fascinating new models to the market, thus further expanding our strong position in the global markets. We therefore expect our deliveries to customers to increase as against the previous year.”

Wrapping up the discussion, Winterkorn insisted that disciplined cost and investment management and the continuous optimization of company processes remain core components of Volkswagen’s “Strategy 2018.”

Winterkorn emphasized “Volkswagen is following a solid, profitable growth course. The outlook for the current year is good, too, despite all economic uncertainties. Volkswagen will play a decisive role in shaping the growth anticipated for world markets.”