WOLFSBURG, Germany — The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered more than 2.5 million units in the first half of this year, marking a company record. In total, customers received 2.53 million vehicles, an 11.8 increase compared with the year-ago period.

The brand delivered 438,500 vehicles for the month of June, a 9.8 percent month-to-month increase.

"The positive trend for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in the first half of the year is very encouraging. It would be a major success if we could keep up this momentum during the second six months," said Christian Klingler, sales and marketing board member for Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars also reported a marked increase in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where deliveries rose by 42.2 percent to 92,300 units in the first half of the year. The brand doubled deliveries in the Russia market to 45,500 vehicles. Volkswagen Passenger Cars also maintained growth in its home market of Germany, where 301,700 vehicles were handed over.

The brand delivered 950,100 vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region from January to June, of which 852,800 units were handed over to customers in China. Deliveries in North America reached more than 237,700 vehicles in the first six months of the year.

Apart from the models developed specially for the Chinese market, demand for the Jetta, Tiguan, Passat CC and Phaeton increased by 50 percent or higher during the first half of the year.