Car and truck maker Volkswagen AG says it increased its light truck sales to Russia by 78 percent in 2008 despite the economic downturn.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said Thursday it delivered 10,500 Caddy and T5 vans and Crafter delivery trucks. In 2007, VW delivered 5,905 such models.

Volkswagen says its most-sold truck in Russia was the T5 transporter van, which saw a 66 percent increase in sales last year to 5,406 vehicles. The smaller Caddy’s sales rose 72 percent to 3,619 vehicles. Crafter sales increased 166 percent to 1,476 vehicles.

VW says its Russian market share in the category of vehicles weighing up to six tons increased to 5 percent. VW says it held an 18.5 percent share of the market of imported light trucks in Russia, the most of any company.

General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it is cutting production in Russia as demand declines in a market only recently described as potentially the largest in Europe.
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Chrysler LLC has strong plans to build it’s vehicles in Russia as early as the end of the year.

Executive Vice President Michael Manley told reporters at the Paris Auto Show that “We’re in fairly deep discussions with potential partners in Russia,” he said. “We have one partner that we’ve had a number of discussions with, and they’re progressing very, very well. I think it’s going to be completed this year.”

Manley mentioned that Russia provides good potential as a growth area in the long term.

We can only guess, which manufacturer will be manufacturing the vehicles, but we hope they will not carry a Lada badge.