(May 13, 2014) The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered almost two million vehicles for the first time in the first four months of a year, selling 1.99 million vehicles worldwide through April, representing an increase of 4.6 percent over the same period last year.

The brand delivered 513,400 in April, a 6.8 percent gain over April 2013.

"Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries yet again in April. On the one hand that is due to good sales developments in China and Europe, and on the other it is attributable to sustained high demand for products such as the Golf, now in the seventh generation of its 40-year history, where the success story continues," said Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group. "However, the global market is still a mixed bag and therefore remains challenging," he added.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 567,800 vehicles on the overall European market in the first four months, of which 298,400 were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany).

The brand recorded a 16.2 percent increase in deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region in the period to April, handing over 993,400 vehicles. In China, 921,400 (783,900; +17.5 percent) models were delivered representing a 17.5 percent increase over last year during the same period.

Volkswagen cars sales were down in North America in April, however. VW delivered 182,700 compared to 196,200 last year, a decline of 6.9 percent. Sales were down 10.4 percent in the U.S. with 118,200 compared to last year when 131,800 sales were recorded.