BMW sales off the charts in August

BMW global vehicle sales in August surge 23%

FRANKFURT: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said worldwide sales surged 23% last month on new demand for new versions of the mid-sized 3-Series and large 7-Series models.

It sold 99,193 BMW, Mini, and Rolls Royce vehicles last month. Sales in the first eight months of 2005 gained 11% from a year earlier to 856,731 units, the Munich-based company said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. Demand for the BMW brand in August rose 24% to 85,079 vehicles.

Chief executive Helmut Panke last year boosted profit by 14% to a record 2.22 billion euros (US$2.75bil) as new models attracted customers from competitor DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz.

The “relatively strong'' euro, costs of steel and oil, and increased competition were holding back 2005 profit growth, Panke said early last month.

“Our growth was extraordinarily strong in August,'' Michael Ganal, the carmaker's sales chief, said in the statement. “Over the year, we continue to expect the BMW Group to achieve an increase in sales in the high single-digit percentage range.''

BMW maintained its lead over DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes Car Group, which yesterday said it sold 86,600 Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles in August.

TheRealJT - 9/9/2005 1:23:31 PM

+1 Boost

Where have you ever seen that most of BMW's sales come from trucks??? The 3 series has always been BMW's biggest seller.

Oh, and QUATTRO MAN, have you seen the next A4 design? Looks like someone over at Audi likes what Bangle is doing enough to blatantly rip off the 3 series design.

fyaym - 9/9/2005 11:51:59 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus is available in Europe and Japan. Don't be stupid, you moron.

wac77 - 9/13/2005 6:42:45 AM

+1 Boost

BMW sales of all its vehicles (other than the Z4) are doing great. The new 3-series launch seems to be very successful, with sales going up despite delayed availability of AWD versions, coupes, convertible, etc.

The Lexus IS looks like a strong competitor to the 3-series, but its sales target is low (45000 per year in the US) compared to the 100000+ US sales of the 3er. Worldwide the difference is more dramatic: 90000 vs 500000.

Competition is tougher than ever. But there is not denying that BMW is coping with it very well -growing and still commanding premium prices.