- Volkswagen Group <VOWG_p.DE> shares rose 2% after the carmaker posted a 30% rise in second-quarter operating profit despite a drop in vehicle sales as rising demand for sports utility vehicles and premium brands boosted margins.
- Volkswagen bucked a trend of falling demand for passenger cars by launching a range of higher-margin sports utility vehicles at a time when demand for sedans is falling.
- By contrast, Volkswagen Group’s operating return on sales rose to 7.2% in the first half, up from 6.8% in the year-earlier period.