BMW Group starts the New Year with momentum

The BMW Group began the year with a strong increase in sales of 16.6%. A total of 82,120 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles were delivered to customers worldwide in January (previous year: 70,419).

In January, sales of BMW brand automobiles climbed 15.9% to a total of 69,852 (previous year: 60,262). Strong gains were again reported by the major series, including the BMW 7 Series with 4,742 deliveries (+89.8% / previous year: 2,498), and the BMW X5 and X6 models with a combined total of 10,565 (+9.3% / previous year: 9,665) deliveries. The BMW Z4 was also among the growth drivers with 1,552 (+278.5% / previous year: 410) deliveries. All three model series remain clear global market leaders in their segments. BMW also made gains with what is traditionally its largest-volume model series. Volumes for the 3 Series rose by 7.1% overall to reach a total of 22,501 (previous year: 21,001) deliveries in January.

Although its successor model is already preparing for launch in late March, demand for the current BMW 5 Series Sedan is strengthening, with 9,314 customers purchasing this highly-successful model (+4.9% / previous year: 8,880) in the past month. Overall, the BMW 5 Series was able to match the previous year’s level of 11,036 deliveries (-0.1% / previous year: 11,042). The two new models, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and the BMW X1, joined the BMW model range in late October. Although they are not yet available in all major high-volume markets, 4,093 BMW X1 and 933 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo models were already delivered to customers in January.

The MINI brand also saw a substantial increase in sales volumes in January. With 12,181 (previous year: 10,120) units sold, 20.4% more vehicles were delivered. Volumes increased for all three model series. In January 1,191 (+510.8% / previous year: 195) MINI Convertibles were delivered to customers. The MINI Clubman was sold to 2,003 customers last month (+5.2% / previous year: 1,904), while the MINI recorded 8,987 deliveries worldwide (+12.0% / previous year: 8,021).

The Rolls-Royce brand can also look back on a successful start to 2010: Demand for its new model, the Ghost, launched in December, is strong, with definite orders until the middle of the year. In January, Rolls-Royce delivered a total of 87 automobiles to customers (previous year: 37) and was able to increase sales volumes by 135.1%.

The BMW Group reported higher retail volumes on all continents in January. A total of 41,087 vehicles were sold in Europe (+2.4% / previous year: 40,118).  The major established markets of Western Europe accounted for the largest share of 38,495 units (previous year: 37,930 / +1.5%). The emerging markets of Eastern Europe maintained their strong growth rates. With 2,237 vehicles sold, growth in the region reached 18.7% (previous year: 1,885). The Russian market also posted a substantial increase in volumes for the first time in months, with 1,129 deliveries (previous year: 937 / +20.5%). The American markets also reported sales growth of 11.6% (18,501 vehicles / previous year: 16,572) in January. Middle and South America made gains of 10.4% (836 / previous year: 757) and 98.3% (1,057 / previous year: 533) respectively; while in the North America region, 8.7% more vehicles were sold (16,608 / previous year: 15,282). Despite continued economic difficulties in the US, the BMW Group improved its sales figures in its key US market by 7.7% to reach 15,410 vehicles (previous year: 14,314) in January. In the Asia region, 74.6% more vehicles were sold (18,523 / previous year: 10,610) last month. In January, BMW Group volumes were also up 21.2% (2,209 deliveries / previous year: 1,823) in Africa and 40.3% (1,692 deliveries / previous year: 1,206) in Oceania.

The sales performance of the Motorcycle Segment was also positive at the start of 2010. With 3,814 units sold, 2.2% more vehicles were delivered to customers than in the same period last year (3,731).

Posted 09/02/2010