Berlin - After-tax profit at Volkswagen Group rose 14 per cent to 4.7 billion euros (5.9 billion dollars) last year before the automotive market turned sour, Europe's biggest carmaker said Monday from its Wolfsburg headquarters.

Volkswagen's main parent, Porsche Automobil Holding SE, meanwhile reported a dip in its own operating earnings from making sports cars, though its overall profits in the six months to January 31 were up, thanks to income from Volkswagen stock options.

Porsche Automobil owns 50.76 per cent of Volkswagen Group and aims to exercise options and raise that stake this year to 75 per cent.

Porsche did not give precise operating earnings figures, but said six-month sales of Porsche cars declined 13 per cent to 3.04 billion euros.

Volkswagen Group's profits in the 12 months to December 31 rose, beating the wider trend in the car industry, but with current sales "extremely weak" at the start of this year, it would be "impossible" to match those figures in 2009, the company said.

Group sales last year rose 4.5 per cent to 113.8 billion euros. Group brands include Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat, Audi and Bentley. (dpa)