BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen AG says group sales through the first 11 months of 2012 have already surpassed last year's record full-year result as deliveries outside western Europe more than offset declines in the debt-troubled region.

Europe's largest automaker said Friday it sold 8.29 million vehicles from January through November, up 10.4 percent over the same period last year and more than the 8.16 million it sold over the whole of 2011. November sales totaled 794,500 — up 11.7 percent from last year.

January-November sales to western Europe excluding Germany dropped 6 percent to 1.71 million vehicles, though German sales rose 3.4 percent to 1.10 million. North American sales rose 26.1 percent to 757,300, while Asia-Pacific sales increased 19.5 percent to 2.86 million.

The Volkswagen group includes brands such as Skoda and Seat.