VW Boosts Sales 9% in First Half

Volkswagen AG sold 4.45 million passenger and commercial vehicles in the first six months of this year compared with 4.09 million units in the same period of 2011.

VW Group sales climbed 11% in June to 798,500 vehicles.

In the January-June period, group volume rose 4% to 606,100 vehicles in Germany but fell 6% to 1 million units in the rest of western Europe. Demand jumped 27% to 322,900 units in central and eastern Europe and 22% to 389,800 units in North America but edged up only 3% to 469,500 units in South America. Sales advanced 18% to 1.5 million units in the Asia-Pacific region, including an 18% increase to 1.3 million units in China.

Worldwide deliveries climbed 10% to 2.8 million vehicles for the VW brand in the first half, 12% to 733,200 units for Audi and 8% to 493,000 units for Skoda. SEAT sales dropped 12% to 163,300 units. The company's commercial vehicle volume rose 4% to 270,000 units, excluding its MAN and Scania affiliates.

VW sales chief Christian Klingler says the second half of 2012 will be "altogether more challenging" because the economic situation, especially in western Europe, remains "tense and difficult." But Klingler says he is confident the company will achieve its 2012 sales goal of surpassing last year's record 8.2 million vehicles.