The Volkswagen Passenger Cars BRAND ( not the Group) reports global sales  of 2.53 million for the first six months of 2011.- Compared to the same period of 2010, this is an increase of 11.8 percent. The brand also reported an increase for the month of June, with 438,500 vehicles sold. For a gain of 9.8 percent compared to June 2010. With Audi having grown 17.7 percent in the half year, the Volkswagen Group will most probably report a nice double digit gain for the first half year.

Volkswagen is alive and well in China, where 852,800 units (+12.9 percent) were handed over to customers. Deliveries in North America rose 21.8 percent to 237,700 units.

Globally, the Jetta is up 58.3 percent, sales of the Tiguan rose 50.9 percent, the Passat CC added 73.4 percent more sales. The Volkswagen with the biggest gain? You won’t believe it: The Phaeton nearly doubled first half sales (+95.8 percent.)

Markentrennung (brand separation) is big at Volkswagen, even and especially when it comes to numbers. Each brand  reports separately on separate days, and when everybody has reported, then the Volkswagen Group totals everything up and reports the numbers again. Kabuki dance, made in Wolfsburg. Ok, let’s give away the punch line: Looking at the numbers, I expect group sales to come in at somewhere around 14 percent and change for the half year.