Peugeot Citroen reports record 3.6 mn auto sales

PARIS: French auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroen said on Thursday that it had sold a record total of 3.6 million vehicles throughout the world last year, when the auto industry was fighting the effects of the economic crisis.

In 2009, the group had sold 3.2 million vehicles.

Chief executive Philippe Varin told journalists that "the economic climate was better than expected."

Last year the auto markets in several countries were supported by temporary state subsidies for people scrapping an old car to buy a new one, as part of policies to combat the economic downturn.

Peugeot Citroen is the second-biggest auto group in Europe after German firm Volkswagen.