VW’s Global Sales Stall

Volkswagen AG sold 471,000 VW-brand passenger vehicles worldwide last month, virtually unchanged from August 2013.

August sales of VW brand vehicles rose 15% to 230,000 units in China, 10% to 110,000 units in Europe and 15% to 41,400 units in Germany. But last month's volume fell 13% to 35,200 units in the U.S. and 25% to 55,100 units in South America.

The VW brand's cumulative sales in the first eight months of this year rose 3% to 4.03 million worldwide, according to the company.

Volume in January-August climbed 17% to 1.83 million in China, 3% to 1.11 million in Europe and 5% to 381,200 in Germany. Sales for the period dropped 13% to 244,900 vehicles in the U.S. and 21% to 427,400 units in South America.

Sales chief Christian Klingler says the uneven results reflect the continuing effects of "very challenging" global conditions. He did not indicate when VW expects the situation to improve.