FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German luxury automaker BMW says sales rose 6.7 percent in September thanks to stronger demand in the United States and Asia.

BMW said Wednesday that sales including its Mini and Rolls-Royce brands rose 18 percent in Asia, supported by a 20.8 jump in China from the same month a year ago. U.S. sales rose 8.3 percent.

Sales in Europe's tough car market barely rose, by 0.7 percent. The European car market has been hard hit by slow growth and high unemployment in the 17-country euro currency union.

The company sold 189,675 vehicles worldwide.

Sales of Rolls-Royce superluxury models rose 7.1 percent to 333 for the month.