BERLIN, July 15 Reuters Volkswagen Group sales fell by around a fifth in the first half of this year from a year earlier, company data showed on Friday, led by a steep drop in Europe, but batteryelectric sales were boosted by growth in China.

Total deliveries to customers worldwide were down 22.4 in the second quarter of the year, with central and eastern Europe, which included Russia, hardest hit with a drop of 49.3.

Volkswagen suspended trade and production in Russia in March and recently offered payoffs to employees for quitting voluntarily at one of its sites in the country by the end of the year. A trade union reported earlier this month the site was closing permanently.

While sales in Russia accounted for only around 2 of Volkswagen39;s total sales in 2021, the war has caused disruptions across Europe39;s car industry from supply chain bottlenecks to inflation impacting deliveries throughout the region. 

Volkswagen39;s sales in western Europe fell 25.7 in the second quarter, Friday39;s data showed, while China and the Americas saw a more moderate drop of around 1618.

Batteryelectric vehicle BEV deliveries increased by just over a quarter to 217,100, making up 5.6 of total sales bolstered largely by significant growth in China.

While Europe, traditionally Volkswagen39;s strongest batteryelectric market, saw a 16.5 drop in BEV sales in the second quarter, sales more than doubled in China.

In the first half of the year, Volkswagen39;s China BEV sales saw a more…