(July 10, 2012) WOLFSBURG —  The Volkswagen Cars brand sold 2.79 million vehicles to customers worldwide in the first half of this year, up 10.2 percent from the same time in 2011. The brand also announced an increase for June, when it delivered 498,600 compared to 438,400 in 2011, a 13.7 per cent increase. 

“The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand developed well in the first half of the year despite the difficult situation in Western Europe. However, there is still considerable uncertainty in Europe which will continue into the second half of the year,” said Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group.

In spite of the difficult situation on markets in Southern Europe, Volkswagen cars grew deliveries on the overall European market in the first six months to 907,900 units, up 3.1 percent. While the number of vehicles delivered in Western Europe (excluding Germany) fell slightly to 464,300 (from 487,100 in 2011), deliveries in Central and Eastern Europe rose by a substantial 45.2 per cent to 134,000 vehicles. 

Volkswagen continued to grow outside Europe. Deliveries by Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the North American region grew 24.2 per cent to 295,300, of which 208,700 models were handed over to customers in the United States representing a 35.4 percent increase. 

In the South American region, deliveries increased by 4.0 per cent to 390,900 units. In the Asia-Pacific region, the brand increased deliveries by 15.0 per cent in the period to June, handing over 1.09 million vehicles to customers.