FRANKFURT (AP) -- Car and truck maker Volkswagen AG says it increased its light truck sales to Russia by 78 percent in 2008 despite the economic downturn. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said Thursday it delivered 10,500 Caddy and T5 vans and Crafter delivery trucks. In 2007, VW delivered 5,905 such models.
Volkswagen says its most-sold truck in Russia was the T5 transporter van, which saw a 66 percent increase in sales last year to 5,406 vehicles. The smaller Caddy's sales rose 72% to 3,619 vehicles. Crafter sales increased 166 percent to 1,476 vehicles.
VW says its Russian market share in the category of vehicles weighing up to six tons increased to 5 percent. VW says it held an 18.5 percent share of the market of imported light trucks in Russia, the most of any company.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
