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MEXICO CITY -- Volkswagen's Mexican subsidiary says it may not reach its production goal of 450,000 vehicles this year at its Puebla, Mexico, operation because of the softening economy.

Through September, the company produced 343,331 passenger cars, 17.2 percent more than in the same period of 2007, according to a statement yesterday.

The Puebla plant, 75 miles southeast of Mexico City, is Volkswagen's only North American assembly plant. Its annual production capacity is being expanded to 550,000 vehicles.

"Until now the figures speak of a constant increase in the plant's production, despite the difficult global economic situation of the past few weeks," Volkswagen said in the statement.

"Despite the production goal for 2008 remaining at 450,000 units, the forecast for the remaining few months of the year is reserved," it added.

Of the production through September, 288,404 vehicles were exported, a 21.4 percent increase from the first three quarters of 2007.

"The growth in exports has been possible thanks to a 20.3 percent increase in the production of vehicles for Europe and Asia and a 12.1 percent increase in the volume of cars for the United States," the VW statement said.

Through the first nine months of 2008, Volkswagen Mexico assembled 156,232 new-generation Jettas (known as Boras in Mexico). It also produced 84,786 SportWagens, 59,925 old-generation Jettas and 42,388 New Beetles.

In addition, it assembled 1,304 commercial truck and bus chassis.