DETROIT -- Four years ahead of plan, Volkswagen sold more than 10 million vehicles worldwide for the first time ever in 2014.
The German automaker with an assembly plant in Chattanooga delivered 10.14 million vehicles last year, the company said today ahead of the opening of the North American International Auto Show here.
Earlier, VW had set a goal of selling 10 million cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles by 2018.
'That is impressive confirmation we are vigorously implementing our Strategy 2018 despite challenging market conditions," said VW Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn in a statement. "We are also making good progress with our other main goals return on sales, customer satisfaction and top employer."
Last year's total sales were up 4.2 percent over 2013, the company said.
Christian Klingler, the VW Group's board member for sales, said December deliveries were 2.7 percent higher globally compared to the same month a year ago.
He said the group has doubled annual sales in the last 10 years.
"That is an outstanding performance," Klingler said.
In North America, the company reported a slight gain of 0.2 percent to 891,900 vehicles.
The car company topped the 10 million mark despite an off year in the U.S., down 2 percent versus 2013 to 599,700, VW reported.
But the company is spending $900 million on an expansion of the Chattanooga plant for a new midsize SUV slated for assembly in late 2016. VW also plans to hire 2,000 more workers to the 2,400 who now are employed at the factory.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the group reported annual deliveries exceeding the 4 million mark for the first time. VW posted sales of 3.68 million in China, up 12.4 percent.
See more in Monday's Times Free Press.