VW Car Sales Rise 11% to First-Quarter Record

Volkswagen AG says worldwide sales of its namesake-brand passenger vehicles climbed to 1.4 million units in January-March from 1.2 million in the same period of 2011. Volume set a new record for the first quarter.

Gains in the three-month period were led by a 13% increase to 483,400 cars in China and a 28% jump to 135,700 units in North America. South American deliveries rose 4% to 190,400 units.

VW brand sales across Europe increased 5% to 441,800 cars. The advance was fueled by a 61% surge to 60,200 units in central and eastern Europe, including Russia, where demand doubled to 35,800 units. Deliveries increased 5% to 149,000 cars in Germany but fell 4% to 232,600 units in the rest of western Europe.

Quarterly sales were buoyed by a 15% jump in VW car sales to 536,600 units in March, a new high for any month.