FRANKFURT — Volkswagen AG said it achieved record global sales in the first half of the year on strong demand in India, Russia and China, delivering nearly 3.3 million vehicles.
In the January to June period, Volkswagen saw the biggest increases in India with a 69 per cent increase; Russia with 63 per cent more deliveries; and Ukraine with nearly 50 per cent more deliveries.
Volkswagen said Monday that Chinese deliveries also saw a 23 per cent increase, while Brazil saw nearly 22 per cent more vehicles delivered.
Overall, the car maker said its sales were up 5.8 per cent from the first six months of 2007.
“With our customer-oriented model diversity, and a consequent growth strategy, we were able to grow our global deliveries despite negative influences,” Detlef Wittig, Volkswagen's production chief, said in a statement.
“We see more storm clouds gathering over the worldwide auto market,” he said. “Nonetheless, with the strength of the brand and the model selection, we clearly developed better than the overall market.”
Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen said the company saw a 1.3 per cent increase in deliveries at 1.84 million in Europe, while its home market of Germany saw deliveries rise 4 per cent to 534,000.
Volkswagen, Europe's largest car maker, did not provide a breakdown for the North American market.
Volkswagen said its hallmark VW brand delivered 1.9 million vehicles in the first six months, nearly a 6 per cent increase. Audi delivered 516,000 vehicles, a 1.4 per cent increase; while Skoda delivered 367,000 vehicles an 18 per cent increase. Seat sold 206,000 vehicles — a decline of 7.5 per cent.
Volkswagen said it delivered 264,000 commercial vehicles and trucks in the first six months of the year, a 13 per cent increase. Meanwhile, the company's luxury brands also saw growth. Bentley delivered 4,700 cars; Lamborghini 1,300; and Bugatti 35, the company said.
