COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Volvo Cars' sales rose 3% year-on-year in October to 61,686 cars driven primarily by an increase in sales of electric and plug-in hybrid models in Europe, the Sweden-based automaker said on Monday.

Volvo Cars, which is majority-owned by China's Geely Holding, said in a statement sales in Europe, its biggest market, were up 21% to 30,167 cars compared to the same period last year while sales in the U.S. and China declined.