German carmaker Volkswagen said Wednesday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2017, putting it on track to hold on to the title of world's largest carmaker two years after its "dieselgate" emissions scandal.

Some 10.74 million vehicles from VW or its subsidiaries ranging from Porsche and Audi to Skoda and Seat rolled out of dealerships last year—an increase of 4.3 percent over the previous year, the carmaker said.

"We are grateful to our customers for the trust these figures reflect," chief executive Matthias Mueller said in a statement.

VW's sales look likely to outstrip Japanese rival Toyota's, whose annual figure for last year is expected to stand at around 10.35 million units.

Nevertheless, the Wolfsburg-based group is still facing a growing challenge from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which is targeting 10.5 million combined shipments in 2017.

VW's strong performance underlines its recovery from the blow it was dealt two years ago, when it admitted in September 2015 to cheating regulators' emissions tests on millions of diesel cars worldwide.

It has since begun to rebuild its reputation in some of the world's most important markets, with Chinese sales adding 5.1 percent to 4.2 million vehicles last year and US sales rising 5.8 percent to 625,000 vehicles.

Growth was more spectacular in South America, at 23.7 percent, but sales only reached 522,000 units in absolute terms.

Meanwhile, sales in Central and Eastern Europe including Russia rose by 13.2 percent to 745,000 vehicles.

But growth in Western Europe was more sluggish, with shipments up 1.4 percent at 3.6 million units.

Looking to the group's different brands, generalist VW booked an increase of 4.2 percent to 6.2 million units, while Skoda added 6.6 percent to 1.2 million and Seat 14.6 percent to 468,000 units.

Luxury Porsche shipped 246,000 cars, up 3.6 percent on the year, while Audi fell behind high-end rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz with 0.6-percent growth to 1.9 million sales.

Truckmaking units MAN and Scania both reported 11.6-percent growth.

Looking to the future, Mueller said VW was making "decisive investments in the mobility of tomorrow".

VW announced in November that it would invest more than 34 billion euros ($41 billion) in future vehicles and technologies—such as electric and hybrid cars, autonomous driving and digitalisation—by 2022.

New details have emerged regarding the next-generation VW Golf. According to Auto Express, which spoke to several Volkswagen honchos at a supplier meeting, the eighth-generation model will make its debut next year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Golf Mk. VIII will also spawn a plug-in hybrid model, GTI, and Golf R, but the e-Golf appears to have been shelved.

Both of the Golf's performance-oriented forms, the GTI and Golf R, will get substantial increases in power for a total of 250 and 350 horsepower respectively. That will put the GTI on roughly equal footing with the Ford Focus ST and Subaru WRX, and the the Golf R at the same level as the Ford Focus RS and closer to the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 and GLA45 models.

The e-Golf, which VW had previously told us would arrive with a roughly 186 mile range, will disappear with the new generation according to Auto Express. The outlet reports that it's a casualty of VW's focus on the I.D. line, particularly the I.D. hatchback. That hatchback is due to arrive a year after the new Golf in 2020 for Europe, and VW says that it will deliver on the 373-mile maximum range (European cycle) quoted for the concept. In the U.S. the first I.D. product we'll see is the production version of the I.D. Crozz in 2020, followed by a version of the I.D. Buzz van in 2022. Of course, it's also possible that the current-generation e-Golf might linger on for a year until the I.D. hatchback goes on sale.

For more information on what's coming for the next-generation VW Golf, be sure to check out our previous coverage on the hatchback.

Car makers appealed to Americans' deep love of SUVs and trucks on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, unveiling a host of choices from luxurious to utilitarian, while also beefing up the humble sedan.

From European car makers to American icons, there were dozens of new offerings for the North American market. While sedans and electric cars were still in the game, the industry clearly favored the large SUVs and trucks that are the source of high profit margins and prefered by US consumers two to one. 

To meet Americans' changing buying habits and preferences, newly offered trucks and SUVs were more luxurious and family-friendly, stuffed with more technology and premium materials, while lower-cost, paired down versions of the same models were also offered. 

In some cases, manufacturers have also tweaked vehicles to make them slightly taller than those of the prior generation. That's a response to consumers who enjoy a greater sense of command over the road.

"Pickup trucks are not just work trucks at all any more. They are much more seen as family cars," said industry analyst Rebecca Lindland of Kelley Blue Book. 

Analysts said 2018 would be the year of trucks and SUVs, which have been making a dramatic comeback the last several years after a precipitous decline during the Great Recession starting in 2008. 

The top five selling vehicles in 2017 were the F-150 pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, the Ram 1500 pickup,  the Toyota RAV4 SUV and Nissan Rogue SUV, in that order. 

With gas prices still affordable, the economy booming, and unemployment low, analysts said US consumers are preferring higher-priced, amenity-laden, large cars compared to more modest family sedans and small compacts. 

"Consumers, as soon as the recession was over, were ready to buy vehicles. And we really haven't seen a deterioration," said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, adding that recently passed US tax cuts are also likely to fuel pickup and SUV sales.

The larger models are highly profitable for car makers. Ford's F-150, the best selling car in the US in 2017, had an average transaction price of $58,000, Lindland said. 

- Larger, 'muscular'

Unveilings commenced at a rapid clip on Monday, even after some major car makers debuted new models over the weekend. 

Fiat Chrysler offered an updated Ram pickup, boasting of new multifunction USB ports, a 12-inch touchscreen display and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, among other features. 

In an effort to add some excitement to a waning sedan market, Volkswagen revealed a new Passat -- its higher-end sedan -- with more than 20 design changes and a sportier option. BMW premiered a new coupe version of its i8 hybrid electric vehicle, promising enhanced power and range. 

BMW also expanded its SUV lineup with the new X2 -- designed to fit in between its X1 and X3 compact utilities and distinguishing itself in a crowded crossover market with the company's signature zip and a "distinctive exterior design." 

The auto show gave a boost to three models by awarding its annual best of the year distinctions.

The 2018 Honda Accord was awarded best car of the year, helping the Japanese company's family sedan best its top rival, the Toyota Camry -- also a finalist for the award. 

Among utility cars, Volvo's XC60 SUV was the winner, a much-needed boost for the Chinese-owned Swedish car company as it aims to reassert itself into the American market.  

Ford's massive Lincoln Navigator SUV won, in the truck category, in part because of its towing capability, an awards representative said. 

Some automakers tried to stand out with flash and glamour. 

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger emerged from a redesigned Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV on Sunday night. GM brought out a redesigned Silverado on Saturday night against a backdrop of earlier models dating back decades -- emphasizing its roots in American history.

"Muscularity is very important in a truck," said GM's design chief Michael Simcoe, while introducing the Silverado. 

At the same time, he said consumers are increasingly looking for luxury in trucks. 

"We have customers who want luxury car levels of refinement and comfort," he said. "This is the fastest growing segment in the truck business."

BMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings.

At the Detroit Auto Show Monday, the Bavarian auto giant presented for the first time its new model X2, a smaller SUV -- part of a series of six new and upgraded SUV models the company is counting on to reignite growth in the US.

BMW in 2017 held onto its crown as the top global luxury carmaker ahead of Mercedes, thanks to strong gains by its British brand Mini.

But not counting the Mini, BMW-branded car sales have lagged those of Mercedes globally since 2016, and the situation has been especially severe in the United States, a key market for all luxury brands.

BMW, together with Mini, sold 405,000 cars in the US in 2015 -- about 30,000 more than Mercedes that year.

But after declining two years in a row, BMW sales last year came in at 354,000, almost 20,000 below Mercedes.

BMW Group chief financial officer Nicolas Peter told reporters Monday that the drop was due to a refresh of its US fleet and expressed confidence in a turnaround.

"We believe we'll see a slight growth in the US market in 2018," Peter said, pointing to the new SUV lineup and greater supply of the popular Five series of luxury sedans.

"The US market is an important market to us," he added.

The new offerings come as BMW finds itself competing not just with traditional rivals such as Mercedes, Toyota's Lexus and rising Volkswagen brand Audi, but also with electric carmaker Tesla.

"BMW took another hit in 2017," said Bertrand Rakoto, a Detroit-based analyst for Psycar."Their sales didn't actually fall that much, but part of the reason was due to heavy incentives."

BMW gave rebates of $5,400 per car in the US last year, far above the $3,800 average for all US cars, according to Automotive News, a US trade publication.

"That's a big rebate for a luxury brand," said Rakoto, who said the brand-new X2 could give BMW a boost.

"SUVs are so popular in the US, but you need a lot of different options to satisfy different markets," he said.

- Underwhelming designs -

Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research said BMW became blinded by its own success.

"They became too cautious in terms of design," Dudenhoeffer said, deeming the conservative Series 2 Tourer a flop compared with its legacy of spiffy models.

"At the same time, Mercedes and others developed new ideas that were really innovative and interesting," Dudenhoeffer said.

Meanwhile, when BMW made the plunge to invest in electric cars with the i3 and i8 models, it opted for a carbon fiber material for the body that reduced weight, but was more costly than other options and gave little additional value to the customer, Dudenhoeffer said.

He added Tesla could represent "a real threat" to BMW and other luxury car makers if it succeeds in its ambitious production ramp-up. Whether Tesla reaches its targets is an open question at this point, but successful execution by the California company could ignite sales of electric cars, he said.

Last year, Tesla sold 55,000 vehicles in the United States, up from almost nothing five years ago and now as much as Porsche.

Among more conventional players, Lexus, the upscale brand of Toyota, is not far behind the German duo -- and after that stands another big German brand: Volkswagen's Audi, which has more than doubled its US sales in seven years, coming in at 227,000 in 2017.

Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit’s Mobility Conference in Abu Dhabi, Gary D. West, Urban Active Operations Manager General Motors International, today reaffirmed General Motor’s commitment to contributing to an all-electric future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.  

Sitting at the forefront of the future mobility revolution, General Motors has identified the four major pillars currently transforming the transportation sphere: in-vehicle connectivity, sharing, electrification and autonomous driving, according to West.

West also expanded on General Motors’ commitment to an all-electric future by discussing plans to launch two new all-electric vehicles in the next 18 months which will be the first of at least 20 new all-electric vehicles launching by 2023.

As part of General Motor’s electrification efforts in the region, Chevrolet is also taking part in the 2018 Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip (Global EVRT) taking place between January 18 and 26, 2018. As the Official Electric Vehicle Partner for this 1,217 kilometer cross-desert road trip between the UAE and Oman, Chevrolet is providing three new Chevrolet Bolt EVs, offering participants the opportunity to test drive the vehicle almost one year before it goes on sale in the region.  

Speaking at the Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip launch event, Molly Peck, Chief Marketing Officer General Motors Middle East, said “Firmly dedicated to furthering the knowledge and adoption of EVs in the region, we are thrilled to be part of the 2018 EVRT Middle East edition. We can’t wait for participants to get behind the wheel and experience the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s outstanding green credentials that combine innovative technologies and an unprecedented driving range of over 500km.”

Committed to playing a major role in the next chapter of the Middle East EV story, Chevrolet Middle East is gearing up to bring the Chevrolet Bolt EV to select markets across the region at the end of 2018 to form the backbone of the region’s electric vehicle fleets.

The number of new cars sold in Europe topped the 15-million mark for the first time in a decade in 2017, the bloc's industry body calculated in new data published Wednesday.

New car registrations rose for the fourth consecutive year, growing by 3.4 percent to 15.1 million units last year, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said in a statement.

The last time the number had exceeded that was in 2007 when a total 15.9 million new cars were registered.

In the wake of the global economic crisis of 2008, new car sales skidded to as low as 11.8 million in 2013, but have been on the rebound in recent years.

The strongest increases in sales last year were seen in Italy and Spain, where new registrations were up by 7.9 percent and 7.7 percent respectively.

Sales were up by 4.7 percent in France and by 2.7 percent in Germany, ACEA calculated.

By contrast, new cars sales slumped by 5.7 percent in Britain, the first decline in six years, as the country grapples with its decision to quit the EU.

In December alone, however, new car registrations were down by 4.9 percent across the EU as a whole, largely because there was one working day less than in December 2016.

Sales were down in almost all European markets in December, apart from Spain where new registrations were up 6.2 percent.

British car sales plummeted by 14.4 percent in December, ACEA calculated.

German giant Volkswagen remains Europe's biggest carmaker, commanding a market share of 23.6 percent, the data showed.

French group PSA, which makes Peugeot, Citroen and DS brands, saw its market share balloon to 15 percent from 8.9 percent after it recently acquired the German and British automakers Opel and Vauxhall from General Motors.

French rival Renault ranked third with a market share of 12.7 percent, the ACEA data showed.

BMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings.

At the Detroit Auto Show Monday, the Bavarian auto giant presented for the first time its new model X2, a smaller SUV -- part of a series of six new and upgraded SUV models the company is counting on to reignite growth in the US.

BMW in 2017 held onto its crown as the top global luxury carmaker ahead of Mercedes, thanks to strong gains by its British brand Mini.

But not counting the Mini, BMW-branded car sales have lagged those of Mercedes globally since 2016, and the situation has been especially severe in the United States, a key market for all luxury brands.

BMW, together with Mini, sold 405,000 cars in the US in 2015 -- about 30,000 more than Mercedes that year.

But after declining two years in a row, BMW sales last year came in at 354,000, almost 20,000 below Mercedes.

BMW Group chief financial officer Nicolas Peter told reporters Monday that the drop was due to a refresh of its US fleet and expressed confidence in a turnaround.

"We believe we'll see a slight growth in the US market in 2018," Peter said, pointing to the new SUV lineup and greater supply of the popular Five series of luxury sedans.

"The US market is an important market to us," he added.

The new offerings come as BMW finds itself competing not just with traditional rivals such as Mercedes, Toyota's Lexus and rising Volkswagen brand Audi, but also with electric carmaker Tesla.

"BMW took another hit in 2017," said Bertrand Rakoto, a Detroit-based analyst for Psycar."Their sales didn't actually fall that much, but part of the reason was due to heavy incentives."

BMW gave rebates of $5,400 per car in the US last year, far above the $3,800 average for all US cars, according to Automotive News, a US trade publication.

"That's a big rebate for a luxury brand," said Rakoto, who said the brand-new X2 could give BMW a boost.

"SUVs are so popular in the US, but you need a lot of different options to satisfy different markets," he said.

- Underwhelming designs -

Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research said BMW became blinded by its own success.

"They became too cautious in terms of design," Dudenhoeffer said, deeming the conservative Series 2 Tourer a flop compared with its legacy of spiffy models.

"At the same time, Mercedes and others developed new ideas that were really innovative and interesting," Dudenhoeffer said.

Meanwhile, when BMW made the plunge to invest in electric cars with the i3 and i8 models, it opted for a carbon fiber material for the body that reduced weight, but was more costly than other options and gave little additional value to the customer, Dudenhoeffer said.

He added Tesla could represent "a real threat" to BMW and other luxury car makers if it succeeds in its ambitious production ramp-up. Whether Tesla reaches its targets is an open question at this point, but successful execution by the California company could ignite sales of electric cars, he said.

Last year, Tesla sold 55,000 vehicles in the United States, up from almost nothing five years ago and now as much as Porsche.

Among more conventional players, Lexus, the upscale brand of Toyota, is not far behind the German duo -- and after that stands another big German brand: Volkswagen's Audi, which has more than doubled its US sales in seven years, coming in at 227,000 in 2017.