BMW widens sales gap over Audi in May

BMW AG widened it's lead in sales over smaller rival Audi in May although growth slowed at both of the German premium carmakers, company figures showed on Friday. Nearly 111,000 customers drove off in a new BMW in May, an increase of 2.0 percent mainly on higher demand for its 1 Series range. Sales of the brand's smallest model doubled last month, accounting for a fifth of all deliveries. BMW reported a 2.9 percent gain in sales of its full-size X5 sport utility and said customers were lining up for its newest offroad model, which debuted in late April. "Our order books for the X6 are already full for the rest of 2008,"

BMW sales boss Ian Robertson said in a statement. Dubbed a "sports activity coupe" due to a car-like silhouette which distinguishes it from other SUV crossovers, the company said some 2,650 X6s were sold over the past five weeks. BMW's growth last month outpaced a 0.8 percent gain at Audi, where sales rose to 88,200 vehicles as the changeover of its best-selling A4 model depressed demand. "We have set a sales target of one million vehicles for 2008, expecting strong year-on-year growth in the second half," Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler said in a statement, adding his company was ahead of schedule with respect to its forecast. Full availability of new A4 mid-size cars will provide a significant boost starting in August once production of its relaunched Avant estate version reaches full capacity, Audi said.

"The A4 Avant is critically important for our sales figures. In Europe alone, where we sell around 70 percent of our vehicles, the Avant accounts for 60 percent of our highest-volume model range," Audi's new sales boss Peter Schwarzenbauer said. In the first five months of the year, BMW brand sales gained 4.4 percent to 516,000 vehicles. Audi managed a 1.5 percent increase to 426,200 thanks mainly to a 23 percent gain in China and a surprising 4.9 percent gain in an otherwise weaker UK car market.

BMW's popular Mini enjoyed a 14 percent gain in sales to almost 22,700 cars helped by strong demand for the Clubman estate version, lifting year-to-date volumes by 20 percent to 102,360 units. Sales of its prestigious Rolls-Royce brand jumped 72 percent to 381 cars in the first five months. "This is the first time in the company's history that more than 600,000 vehicles have already been sold by the end of May," BMW said. German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is expected to report global sales figures later on Friday. Shares in BMW were down 1.5 percent by 0852 GMT while stock in Audi parent Volkswagen was up 0.7 percent.

JRobUSC - 6/6/2008 4:31:47 PM

+6 Boost

you and GermanNut should start a band.

Agent001 - 6/6/2008 5:33:04 PM

-2 Boost

BMW sales boss Ian Robertson said in a statement. Dubbed a "sports activity coupe" due to a car-like silhouette which distinguishes it from other SUV crossovers, the company said some 2,650 X6s were sold over the past five weeks.

What makes this so amazing is that this is selling in a time period where NO ONE on earth is buying SUV's.

Speaks volumes of how sexy the X6 to customers...

001

VISO - 6/6/2008 6:09:23 PM

0 Boost

I would check your stats carefully on that. The A3 dominates sales in its segment in Europe. The 1-Series is far back, plus Europeans prefer hatchbacks amazingfool.

Chip - 6/6/2008 7:06:41 PM

+5 Boost

Took my E92 in for service today and talked to my salesmen who gave me some info.

The X6 35i has a 6 month waiting list and they already have several deposits down for the 50i model coming out this summer. Most are going for close to $80,000 !?!?

The 3-series coupe and convertible are still in huge demand.

5 M3's on the lot, not moving as quickly as they'd like. Offered me a $1,000 a month lease on a sedan, hadn't realized I'd recently DINAN'd my current car.

The 1-series is selling more convertibles than coupes (mainly 128i's) since their introduction. The 135i coupe is being passed up a lot because buyers are instead getting a 3-series (as predicted). Said they had only sold a few.

Not really important, but though I'd share nonetheless.

enthusiastx11 - 6/7/2008 1:14:27 PM

+4 Boost

what does lexus have to do with this thread? lexus is a small-time player on a global level. and since sales have been declining for months now, even less of a future threat to the germans.

flozel1 - 6/7/2008 9:53:17 PM

+2 Boost

What does Lexus have to do with this thread? Nothing. Can you do me a favor? Can you and your other loser friend on this board stay away from Lexus threads?

VISO - 6/7/2008 1:11:48 PM

-1 Boost

Just as an example: In the entry premium segement in Europe for 2007 the A3 sold 203,062 units, the 1-Series sold 142,020 units , and the A-Class sold 136,293 units. Audi also lead in 2007 with the A6 vs. the 5-Series (133,667 vs. 122,319)in Europe and the A8 lead the 7-Series (10,227 vs. 8569). The 3-Series sold 220.476 vs. the A4 at 206,909 in 2007. The C-Class was 158,994. MB lead only with the S-Class at 21,858 in Europe for 2007.

Source: ANE

AgentOrange - 6/8/2008 11:04:33 AM

+2 Boost

It'll be interesting to see how the new 128i/135i coupe & cabrio impacts the A3/1er sales race this year..

VISO - 6/7/2008 8:47:49 PM

+1 Boost

Deboost all you want. These are the facts. How childish!

JRobUSC - 6/9/2008 11:23:55 AM

+2 Boost

they're sold out genius. BMW is selling all the X6's they choose to build. If they built more of them, like they do the X5, the figures would be higher. Instead they are choosing (as in, "something done purposely") to keep availability down and maintain exclusivity.

MPowerDK - 6/10/2008 1:23:03 AM

+1 Boost

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/wirtschaft_-_handel/hxcms_article_512957_13987.hbs

sales en Germany May 2008.