VW sales up 21 percent

photo The VW logo is seen on the front of one of dozens of new Passats made at the Chattanooga Volkswagen assembly plant parked outside the plant. These cars will be used as demos for testing, internal quality control and press test drives.

Volkswagen of America said today its July sales rose 21.7 percent from a year ago as demand for its Jetta models rose 62 percent.

"With the all-new Passat and Beetle due in dealer show rooms this fall, we are confident the momentum will continue," said Jonathan Browning, VW of America's chief executive.

A few of the Chattanooga-made Passats already have been delivered to dealers nationally, with the automaker slated to start sales officially in September.

The German automaker reported it sold 29,066 total vehicles in July in the U.S., up from 23,880 in the same month last year.

Sales of its Tiguan sport utility vehicle jumped 19.5 percent to 2,351. Sales of its GTI small car increased 30.8 percent to 1,556.

Meanwhile, diesel models accounted for 24.1 percent of the automaker's sales.

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