VW Group Global Sales Rose 6% in First Half of 2013

Volkswagen AG's group sales worldwide climbed to a record 4.70 million vehicles from January through June from 4.45 million units in the same period of 2012.

The year-earlier total did not include the 68,200 vehicles delivered by the Porsche brand, which was consolidated in corporate results last August.

Group volume last month increased 4% from June 2012 to 827,800 vehicles.

In the first six months of this year, demand for the company's brands dropped 4% to 1.87 million vehicles across Europe. That included a 4% decline to 583,900 units in Germany. Deliveries shrank 4% to 450,500 vehicles in South America.

But the VW group boosted sales 10% year on year to 303,900 vehicles in the U.S. from January through June. Asia Pacific volume jumped 17% to 1.73 million units, including a 19% advance to 1.54 million vehicles in China. In the latter market, the company trailed rival General Motors Co., whose sales grew 11% to a record 1.57 million units.

The group's first-half deliveries rose 4% to 2.91 million vehicles for VW brand passenger vehicles and climbed 6% to 780,500 units at Audi, 12% to 182,100 at SEAT and 18% to 81,600 units at Porsche. Skoda sales fell 6% to 464,600 units. Commercial vehicle volume was flat at 270,700 units.