The VW group had no problem setting an all time sales record surpassing the 7 million mark for the first time in the first three quarters of a year.

"Thanks to a broad-based, international positioning and a convincing product range we were able to respond well to the continuing uncertainty in the Eurozone and the challenging overall market situation – and have thus been able to win many customers for our attractive models,” commented Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler.

While the group's sales were down 2.4 percent in Europe (2.73 million deliveries) and 9.4 percent in South America (681,200), it reported a 9.2 percent increase in North America (664,500 sales) and 16 percent in the Asia-Pacific region (2.63 million). In China alone, the VW Group sold 2.35 million cars in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of 17.7 percent over the same period last year.