Peugeot-Citroen logs stable first-half sales

France's biggest car maker CSA Peugeot Citroen logged stable worldwide sales of 1.86 million vehicles in the first half of 2011, with a weakened performance in Europe, it said on Tuesday. Worldwide sales rose fractionally by 0.2 percent compared to the same period last year but in Europe sales were down 5.3 percent, with falls of 25 percent in Spain and 12 percent in Italy, the firm said in a statement. Sales grew by two percent in France and 11 percent in Germany. "Dragged down by the elimination of remaining scrappage incentives, traditionally strong markets for the Peugeot and Citroen brands reported weak growth or strong declines," the statement said. "Global automobile markets rose by six percent in the first half of 2011," led by demand for passenger cars in China and passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Latin America and Russia, it added. Sales in Russia soared 65.5 percent to 35,400 vehicles.