Wolfsburg, Germany - Volkswagen reported a drop in sales in October but predicted it would sell more cars in 2008 than it did last year.

Europe's largest automaker said it delivered 502,600 vehicles last month, a drop of 5.1 per cent from a year ago. Sales in the first 10 months of 2008 were up 2.8 per cent to
5.29 million.

VW said increased sales in emerging economies like China and Brazil helped offset a slump in demand in western Europe.

Sales for the first 10 months rose 12.6 per cent in China to 853,800 vehicles and by 16.7 per cent in Brazil to 550,700. In Russia, sales jumped 64.4 per cent to 107,900 cars.

In Germany, sales for the first 10 months rose by 1.8 per cent to 881,500 units, but declined 5.6 per cent in the rest of western Europe to 1.65 million. (dpa)