Volvo Cars reported a solid double-digit sales increase for the first six months of the year, posting growth of 10.5% to 256,563 cars compared with the same period in 2015. Sales of the XC90 were the main growth driver globally.

The Geely-owned automaker reported growth in all major sales regions in the first half of 2016. In Europe, sales rose by 10.3% to 138,851 cars as a result of strong performances in key markets such as Sweden, Germany, the UK and France. The XC60 was the best-selling model in the region while the XC90 also saw strong demand.

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The United Kingdom recorded sales of 22,629 cars in the first six months of the year, up 7% over the same period last year. The XC60 was the best-selling model in the first half of the year, followed by the V40 and the XC90.

Jon Wakefield, acting managing director of Volvo Car UK, said: "This impressive half-year result and sustained growth is a reflection of the continued hard work from everyone and our dealer network. It is also yet more proof of the desirability of our products. Volvo has ambitious plans – both in the UK and on a global scale – and the UK's strong performance shows that we're right to be confident about another record-breaking year for the company."

Volvo's resurgence in the United States also continued apace, as the company delivered close to 25% more cars over the six-month period. As total sales for the period rose to 36,654 cars, demand for the XC90 was the key growth driver, and the SUV was the best-selling Volvo model in the US.

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China was Volvo's largest single market in the first half of 2016, with 40,688 cars sold, an increase of 6.3% year-on-year, driven by growing demand for the XC90 as well as the locally produced XC60 and S60L saloon.

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In June, Volvo retail sales increased by 10.6% overall compared with the same month in 2015, to a total of 51,431 cars. As such, it was the 13th consecutive month of global retail sales growth. The US was the largest single market for the month, with 8,588 cars sold (+43.5%), followed by China, Sweden, the UK and Germany.

Globally, the XC60 was the best-selling model in the first half of 2016, with 73,817 cars sold (H1 2015: 78,066), followed by the V40/V40 Cross Country, with 48,670 sold cars (51,507). The XC90 was third, with 43,911 cars sold (6,719).