HERNDON, Va. (AP) — Volkswagen of America Inc. said Friday that U.S. auto sales rose 7 percent in January and marked the company's highest sales in the month since 1974.

BY THE NUMBERS: VW sold 29,018 vehicles, up from 27,208 in January 2012.

TOP SELLERS: Sales of the Jetta fell 4 percent, but it was still VW's biggest seller in the U.S., at 10,522.

HOT MODELS: VW sold 8,856 of its Passat sedans, an increase of 40 percent from a year earlier, and 2,232 Beetles, up 59 percent.