VW Boosts Global Sales 17%

Volkswagen AG's namesake brand sold 491,000 passenger vehicles worldwide last month compared with 419,100 units in January 2011, buoyed by sales gains in China and North America.

Deliveries in Germany slid 9% year over year to 38,100 vehicles in January. Demand dropped 12% to 60,600 units in the rest of western Europe. But sales rose 9% to 18,200 units in central and eastern Europe and 7% to 10,000 units in Russia.

VW brand volume climbed 11% to 43,800 vehicles in North America last month. But sales dipped 2% to 63,100 units in South America despite a 5% increase to 46,000 units in Brazil.

Registrations grew in Asia Pacific (+44% to 251,100 vehicles) last month. That included a 47% surge to 235,000 units in China on sales before the Lunar New Year. Because the holiday fell in January last year, VW expects a year-on-year decline this month.

The company's Audi brand reported a 16% jump in global sales to 111,800 vehicles last month.