FRANKFURT, GERMANY (AFP) - Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, said Friday that October deliveries gained 11.1 percent to 557,300 vehicles from the same month a year earlier amid growth in its main markets, China and Germany.

The group's nine brands also sold a total of 5.32 million vehicles in the 10-month period from January to end October, surpassing the total 2008 figure of 5.29 million, a statement said.

At the same time, the global auto market declined by around 10 percent it added.

"Overall developments are better than expected thanks to our market leadership in Germany, the growth markets of China and Brazil and to our young and environmentally friendly product range," sales director Detlef Wittig was quoted as saying.

He added however that "global passenger car markets have not made a sustained recovery yet, so we are anticipating a particularly difficult and challenging year in 2010."

A breakdown of the results showed that Chinese sales soared by 64.3 percent to 128,900 vehicles, while the group's home market in Germany grew by 26 percent to 116,100 units.

Brazil turned in growth of 9.5 percent to 59,300 vehicles, and the group said global demand for its Audi A5 and Q5 models, along with VW's own Jetta and Passat CC cars "was particularly high."

Volkswagen's less expensive models have benefitted strongly from Germany's auto-scrapping bonus, but that offer expired in September and analysts warn that 2010 could be gloomy for the domestic market.