The Volkswagen Group has sold 3.31 million vehicles around the world for the first half of 2008 and appears to be tracking nicely to overtake the two manufacturers (GM and Toyota) ahead of it, assuming all goes to plan.

During the same period, Ford sold 3.22 million vehicles and lost third place to VW, but the family-owned multinational may pick up sales in the latter half of the year -- although that appears unlikely.

"We are delighted that the Volkswagen Group has made it to the global automobile industry's top three for the first time," said Volkswagen Chairman, Martin Winterkorn.

"We will systematically push ahead with our growth course even in the present difficult market environment."

Volkswagen's sales for the first six months of 2008 increased by 7.2 per cent, despite the economic uncertainty prevailing in North American markets and beginning to impact other global markets.

Among these other markets are Europe, Volkswagen's home base. Whether VW can maintain its expanded sales momentum for the remainder of the year is not a done deal, particularly in light of the increasing nervousness in China, a market from which much of Volkswagen's growth springs (more here).

And despite Volkswagen aiming to be the world's number one purveyor of motor vehicles, it still has to climb over the top of GM and Toyota (no easy feat, on either front).

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