Volkswagen AG said Friday that global sales rose 11%

Volkswagen AG said Friday that global sales rose 11% from a year earlier in June, adding 798,500 vehicles as demand remains strong in North America and China. The economic environment in Western Europe remains difficult and challenges in the coming months will increase.

VW board member Christian Klingler said in a statement that they plan to stay on track in the second half of the year, which will be more challenging overall. Europe’s largest automaker by sales sold 4.45 million vehicles worldwide in the first half of the year. That’s up 8.9% from 2011.

The key points in brief:

• Volkswagen delivered 1.93 million vehicles to customers in Europe in the first six months, up 1.8% year-on-year.
• In Western Europe deliveries were 1.01 million.
• Sales in Central and Eastern Europe grew by 27% to over 322,900 vehicles.
• Sales in North America increased by 22% to 389,800 vehicles.
• Volkswagen sold 469,500 vehicles in South America in the first six months, an increase of 3.1% year-on-year.
• Sales in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 18% to 1.48 million.