By Cecilia Butini

German sports-car maker Porsche AG on Friday reported a rise in worldwide sales in the third quarter of the year.

The German company sold around 74,600 vehicles worldwide, up 8.4% from the previous year, according to a statement from its parent company Volkswagen AG.

In the first nine months of the year, global sales declined 5% to 191,547 vehicles, Porsche said in a separate release.

Sales at a European level showed a 9% slump for the nine-month period, with the German market hit by a 23% decline in car sales.

Detlev von Platen, head of sales and marketing at Porsche, said the Chinese market has picked up again after the lockdown that was imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and that demand increased distinctly in other markets as well.

However, the crisis caused by the coronavirus is still affecting Porsche, the executive said.

Write to Cecilia Butini at cecilia.butini@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-16-20 0557ET