VW Sales Climb 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 grew 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.

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."