Volkswagen's net profit tumbled 20% in Q1

[FRANKFURT] Embattled German auto giant Volkswagen said on Tuesday that both sales and profits fell in the first three months of the year but it is sticking to its full-year targets.

VW, currently engulfed in a massive emissions-cheating scandal, said in a statement that net profit slumped by 20.1 per cent to US$2.6 billion in the period from January to March, on a 3.4-per cent decline in sales.

"We are confirming our forecast for the whole year," with overall sales set to decline by "up to five per cent," VW said.

AFP