Volkswagen sales surge 9.8% in August on SUVs

Staff file photo by Erin O. Smith / Volkswagen employees work at the Chattanooga assembly plant. Production of a five-seat version of the seven-seat Atlas SUV is slated to start in 2019.
Staff file photo by Erin O. Smith / Volkswagen employees work at the Chattanooga assembly plant. Production of a five-seat version of the seven-seat Atlas SUV is slated to start in 2019.

Volkswagen of America on Wednesday reported that sales surged 9.8% in August as the company posted its best numbers for that month in six years.

Sales of the Chattanooga-made Atlas SUV in August doubled from the same month a year ago to 8,227, according to the German automaker. For the year, Atlas sales are up 39%.

The midsize Passat sedan, also made in Chattanooga, posted sales of just 572 vehicles, down 85% from a year ago. VW has said it's running out of the 2019 models of the Passat and the 2020 version hasn't launched yet.

The Tiguan SUV posted sales of 10,955, up 50% in August.

Total Volkswagen of America sales in August were 35,412 vehicles. For the year, VW has reported sales of 251,208, up 6.6%.

(Read more: Volkswagen's July sales up on Chattanooga-made Atlas SUV; Passat sedan numbers tumble)

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