VW Group Boosts Global Sales 11%

Volkswagen AG's group registrations climbed to 9.07 million vehicles last year from 8.16 million units in 2011. The company predicts its volume will set a fresh record this year.

December's group demand jumped 21% year on year 784,300 vehicles.

By brand, full-year sales grew 13% to 5.7 million vehicles units at the VW car unit, 12% to 1.5 million units at Audi, 7% to 939,200 units at Skoda and 4% to 550,400 units at VW commercial vehicles. Volume at Spanish marque SEAT fell 8% to 321,000 units as its domestic car market declined sharply.

Demand for the company's Porsche make jumped 20% to 141,000 units in 2012, including 59,500 vehicles delivered in August through December when Porsche sales were fully consolidated in VW results. The sports car brand aims to boost volume to 200,000 vehicles before 2018.

VW says its registrations last year surged 26% to 841,500 vehicles in North America and 23% to 3.2 million units in Asia-Pacific. In South America, VW Group's volume rose 8% to 1 million vehicles, including an 11% advance to 80,200 units in Brazil.

Group demand across Europe in 2012 was flat at 3.7 million vehicles, including a 2% gain to 1.2 million units in Germany and a 7% decline to 1.9 million units in the rest of western Europe. Sales jumped 18% to 644,300 vehicles in central and eastern Europe, led by a 39% surge to 317,700 units in Russia.