RPT-Volkswagen aims to double U.S. sales by 2012/13-exec

(Repeats story to additional Reuters codes; also adds alternative Reuters instrument code for VW)

WASHINGTON Jan 10 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG.DE)(VOWG_p.DE), Europe's biggest car maker, aims to more than double its sales in the United States within the next three to four years, the head of the company's U.S. business said on Sunday.

"We will sell 400,000 to 450,000 vehicles in 2012/13," Stefan Jacoby said at an event in Washington, D.C., ahead of the Detroit Auto Show.

VW sold 213,000 cars in the United States last year. There was a good chance that Volkswagen's U.S. business could become profitable in 2013, he added.

VW's initial 2009 target was abandoned as the global recession led to a hefty downturn in the automotive industry and due to VW's investments for its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant.

Overall, Jacoby expects U.S. vehicle sales of 11 million to 11.5 million in 2010. "We are a little bit more optimistic now than we were a few months ago," he said, pointing to a stabilization in the labor and real estate markets.

He expects U.S. car sales to settle at about 15 million over the medium term, he said, adding that the market for compact and medium-sized limousines would grow faster than other segments.

VW aims for U.S. sales of 800,000 by 2018, helped by local production and a broader dealership network.

VW ranges rank behind brands like Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes (DAIGn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE) in the United States. (Reporting by Arno Schuetze, writing by Eva Kuehnen, editing by Maureen Bavdek)