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 Excluding the Porsche effect, the company's operating earnings rose 1.8 percent in what it called "a difficult market environment," beating analyst estimates and indicating the company was holding its own in a difficult European auto market. It said it would still achieve its earnings goal for the year.
Net profit fell to 2.85 billion euros ($3.76 billion) from 5.70 billion in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue rose 8.5 percent to 52.1 billion euros.
CEO Martin Winterkorn said Wednesday the company had "achieved a solid result in a difficult market environment." The company said that full-year operating earnings, which exclude financial items such as interest and taxes, would at least equal last year's.
The company had enjoyed a large boost in the second quarter of 2012 thanks to the recalculation of stock options related to its takeover of high-end sports car maker Porsche, which is now one of VW's 12 brands. The company also makes cars under the Audi, Skoda, SEAT, and Bentley nameplates.
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