BMW Group sales decline 4.3% for 2008

The global financial crisis has slammed car manufacturers around the world. In the United States, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have all been fighting for their survival.

In Europe, German premium manufacturers have been hard hit as well. Mercedes-Benz brand was down 5.4% in 2008 with Mercedes-Benz Cars which includes the Mercedes-Benz brand as well as SMART brand falling 2.3% for the year thanks to the strong results by SMART.

Now BMW Group, which includes the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce brands of cars reports its sales declined 4.3% in 2008 to just over 1.4 million vehicles (1,435,876 precisely). While BMW Group maintains its title as largest premium auto manufacturer by volume, further analysis of the results reveal that BMW Group's flagship BMW brand (vehicles with the blue and white propeller) suffered tremendously during the year. BMW brand vehicles sales fell 5.8% compared to 2007 bringing year-end sales down to 1,202,239.

Fortunately, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands were both able to see record sales for the 2008 year. Mini sales rose 4.3% to 232,425 cars and Rolls-Royce saw a 20% sales increase in 2008 for its uber-luxury vehicles bringing the year-end total to 1,212 vehicles.

The results for the 3 German premium auto manufacturers for the 2008 year was as follows:

BMW brand: -5.8% for total of 1,202,239 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz brand: -5.4% for total of 1.12 million vehicles

Audi brand: +4.1% for total of 1,003,400

The weak U.S. market was the main reason for the large declines at BMW and Mercedes-Benz since both german manufacturers are heavily reliant on the U.S. market for overall sales. Audi, however, is a much smaller player in the suffering U.S. market and was able to set a new record for global sales thanks to its large presence in European and Asia-Pacific markets and much smaller exposure to the slumping U.S. market.

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GermanNut - 1/9/2009 12:43:50 PM

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Looks like BMW really got his hard this year. Mercedes-Benz was just about as bad.

It is truly incredible to see Audi post a 4.1% INCREASE in global sales when every other major auto manufacturer has seen sales crash.

The outlook for BMW and Mercedes-Benz is not going to get any better for 2009 as the United States is forecast to remain in a recession for at least the first half of 2009, if not the entire year with conditions getting even worse than they were for 2008.

Audi's focus on the European and Asian markets, mostly on Russia and China respectively, with a smaller exposure to the slumping U.S. market, appears to be paying huge dividends.

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 12:46:44 PM

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Until the United States starts to recover from this recession, Audi will continue to catch BMW and Mercedes-Benz at an alarming rate.

downtoearth - 1/9/2009 1:35:03 PM

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GermanNut, Audi will run over Mercedes and BMW with a steam roller sooner than anyone thinks. Not only because they're very active and ahead in China (which is the future of car markets) and they outsell MB/BMW in Europe (core market of A/B/M German brands) and the USA (which is the past of car markets) is not their key market but also because they just belong to the VW AG. People don't even realize how crushing advantage this is. Zillions of engines, transmissions, suspensions, drivetrains and individual subsystems/parts Audi uses is shared with VW/Skoda/Seat/Bentey/Lamborghini dramatically increasing the return on investments. BMW makes a new tranny and overall they earn x EUR of it thought this gearbox lifetime, Audi makes a new tranny and they earn 10x EUR of it. MB had its chance when pairing with Chrysler to have a cheaper brand to increase ROI and they mismanaged it, selling them at huge loss some years later. BMW had its chance when they bough Rover and they cocked up as MB did. Unless they pair with somebody (although I don't see many candidates) they're lost. It's just a matter of time. There's no place in the automotive world for a small carmaker.

Dutchman - 1/9/2009 12:53:49 PM

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Don't forget that Audi has done so with little advertising. They really only started to advertise aggressively when the new A4 came out and don't forget it didn't get to North America until the end of September. They should post good sales for 2009 in NA barring an economic meltdown.

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 12:59:13 PM

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Dutchman, the U.S. economy is already in recession hence the very low sales numbers for both BMW and MB for 2008.

For 2009, the U.S. economy is forecasted to remain in recession for at least the first half of the year. If things go awry with the recovery plan, we might see a depression and then BMW and MB sales will drop even further.

Looks like Audi made the correct decision to focus more on Europe and Asia instead of the U.S. However, Audi did mention that strong sales in the U.S. are absolutely necessary for it to achieve its long-term sales goals.

Everyone is getting killed, Audi included, it's just that Audi is not getting hurt as bad as BMW and Mercedes.

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 12:59:25 PM

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bmwdrvr - 1/9/2009 2:04:39 PM

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sales and good cars dont always relate, and while we are on that subject there isnt a segment that Audi competes in which they rank dont overall "average" or below average, for the record It is BMW, and Mercedes which hold benchmarks.

downtoearth - 1/9/2009 1:45:10 PM

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Charles, it is genuinely impossible to have an Audi and decide that it's better to go to Infiniti. It is like having a delicate oriental massage done by a sexy geisha and deciding it's better to have a massive diarrhea.

0to60 - 1/9/2009 1:59:31 PM

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I find it funny that all of Chucky's crazy posts are boosted right after they are posted. Obviously someone has multiple screen names. its kinda sad... Wonder if that boosts his self esteem

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 2:04:10 PM

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BMW lacks economies of scale that Audi enjoys thanks to being owned by VAG. Audi is also well ahead in China which is soon to be the largest car market in the world. In Europe Audi is also ahead of MB and BMW.

When the largest car market explodes like it is currently doing, those who have the largest exposure to said market will be effected the most. That is precisely what is happening to Mercedes and BMW as we speak.

Breaking News: The U.S. economy will continue to implode for the first 6 months of 2009.

Translation: BMW and MB are fucked for the U.S. and since they have such a huge exposure to the U.S. market their global 2009 sales will be substantially negative as well, barring a huge economic recovery in the second half of 2009.

VISO - 1/9/2009 2:45:32 PM

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As usual you are full of crap bmwdrv. Audis easily compete in quality to BMW and MB and surpass them in many respects. Just as an example, until the new S-Class arrived, if I remember, the A8L was cleaning up the category in this class while the "above average" 7-Series was at the bottom of the heap. Please spare the BS Audi rags already. You are slowly sounding like amazingidiot of the past.

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 2:58:09 PM

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bmwdrvr, sales and good cars don't always relate? Hmm....moron alert.

Audi's interiors are leaps and bounds ahead of any mainstream manufacturer in terms of quality, ergonomics, and design. Even better is that they make BMW interiors look like cheap plasticky tin-cans.

Again, BmwDrv posts false lies. Audi's A6 outsells BMW's 5-series and Mercedes' E-class worldwide. So much for Audi being "average" or "below average" in every segment.

Additionally, the A8 has routinely been spanking the 7-series in comparison tests. Wait until the new A8 debuts in 210. The 7-series will again be sent back to second or third place.

Audi's R8 easily trumps anything out of BMW's M-division and routinely defeats Porsche's iconic 911.

Don't blame me for BMW's lackluster performance thanks to such a huge dependence on a crashing U.S. market.

bmwdrvr - 1/9/2009 6:57:57 PM

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Find me a test that proves otherwise, all you have been doing is been posting your TYPICAL BMW HATE POST, they are subpar cars, you want to corelate cars and sales, does that make Lexus the best producer of luxury cars uhm no, does it make the Ford F150 the best vehicle sold in America NO!!!!!!!!!!!1, is the Camry best in class. a resounding NO!!!!, I love the Audi fans they are so full of crap, you find any random thing to say Audi's are better FOR the record, the A8 consistantly ranks LAST in test uhm beat the 7 series uhm yeah...not to mention poor resale values among other things, the 3 series WORLDWIDE is regareded as bestin class, as is the 5 series not just in America, and the list goes on. Does Audi make bad cars, no not at all Average cars yes, cars that dont quite match the top cars in the class yes, but hey when riding down the street with the over light steering, odd ride/handling combination, and rough rides despite the buick soft steering you can say hey my Audi's interior is best in class BECAUSE THE SAME MAGAZINE THAT SAID MY CAR IS JUST AVERAGE AND AGAIN MISSED SAID SO..............LMAO

bmwdrvr - 1/9/2009 7:04:43 PM

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Oh...and you forgot to mention the 3 series by far outsells the A4, lol focusing on the 5 series, and by the way this A8 you claim is so great I guess the LS is tons better since it dones rings out in the USin the sales department....flawed logic at best...

bmwdrvr - 1/9/2009 7:01:45 PM

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ok this I can agree with, very good comment

VISO - 1/9/2009 6:57:36 PM

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These numbers are for Audi AG only. Nothing to do with the VW Brand. Lexus can only dream of achieving these global sales numbers. Maybe someday beauty queen.

VISO - 1/9/2009 6:55:35 PM

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Audi sales only. VW Brand sold at least twice that much. Sailor, I am curious regarding your numbers. Audi has outsold BMW in Europe for the last several months in 2008. As for profit, I am not sure you are correct. Audi leads BMW in the most important item of "net profit per unit" easily outpacing BMW currently. Actually, recent articles stated that BMW has been looking at Audi in terms of profit models and the like. These articles are out there. So, let's not just make blanket statements.

VISO - 1/9/2009 10:20:12 PM

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bmwdrvr - delusional thinking. The A8 easily outsells the 7-Series throughout Europe and Russia, not to mention China. Just because brainwashed Americans perceive the 7-Series as "better" then that's their loss. And the 7-Series has NOT beaten the A8L in any review for the last 4 years. So, not sure where you are coming from. Also, the A4 outsells the 3-Series in Europe by the way as does the A6 over the 5-Series, and the A3 over the 1-Series. The A5 has caught the 3-Series Coupe in sales in Europe as well. It is obvious you know little about Audi to make such bias rationalizations. Wasnt't the previous RS4 the benchmark in its class as well? Even the new M3 has not been able to completely win the comparisions against the old RS4 as the new A8L did against the 7-Series. Of course BMW sells more in the US: Easy financing and big incentives brought in alot of customers. Where are they now? 40% drop in sales in one month is not normal for a company supposedly all about loyality.

VISO - 1/9/2009 10:25:46 PM

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And further stop talking about Resale values. A used 7-Series can be had for a penny! The floor has dropped out from under BMW in terms of residual values and thus a $400 million write-off recently. I don't see Audi writing anything off. I think they printing their own Euros these days they are so flush in cash and profit. Latest standings has Audi overall above BMW and Mercedes-Benz in residual values. Come on, get your facts straight! Stop hating. I have nothing against BMW, I love the old 7-Series before Bangle. Be a real auto enthusiast not a fanboy.

GermanNut - 1/9/2009 11:03:35 PM

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Fact: Audi A8 has defeated BMW's 7-series in more comparison tests than the 7-series has defeated it

Fact: Audi's A6 outsells BMW's 5er and MB's E-class worldwide

Fact: Audi R8 has defeated the Porsche 911 in more comparison tests than the Porsche 911 has defeated it.

Fact: Audi Q5 is regarded as best in class to drive

Anthony - 1/10/2009 12:07:52 AM

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Audi vs. BMW huh?

I like many offerings from both brands.

Dutchman - 1/10/2009 10:04:35 AM

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400 million write down. Enough said.

GermanNut - 1/10/2009 10:44:32 AM

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The Sailor you are proven wrong yet again:

You obviously did not witness the Audi R8 defeating the Porsche 911 Turbo in Motortrend.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/coupes/2007_aston_martin_v_8_vantage_vs_2008_audi_r8_2007_porsche_911_turbo_comparison_test/2008_audi_r8_comparison_test

Last I checked the 911 Turbo was not a volume 911 model. Please don't start with the GT3 and GT2. You know the GT2 costs a lot more than the R8 and is a stripped-down 911 Turbo. The GT3, while cheaper than the R8, is also a stripped down version of the 911. The R8 is meant to be a full-on luxury sportscar with actually MORE amenities than you need in such a car, not LESS. The R8 was never intended to be an ultra-light version of an existing performance car such as the M3 CSL for BMW's regular M3 or the 911 GT2/GT3 for the Porsche 911.

Let's be fair here, when the old 7-series was out compared to the current A8, the 7-series got crushed repeatedly in magazine tests. It's just another year or so before Audi launches its new A8 and the new 2009 7-series gets crushed again. C'mon Sailor, you know it's coming......Also, why are you comparing a 2009 BMW 7-series to a 6 year old A8 and saying that the 2009 7-series crushes it? The Audi should get crushed considering its 6 years older. Don't get all happy that a brand new 7-series launched just this year is defeating the 6 year old A8. If the 2009 7-series couldn't defeat an A8 that was for all practical purposes launched in 2003 I would be ashamed of BMW.

Sailor let it go, recognize Audi for what it is and stop your BMW fanboism.

GermanNut - 1/10/2009 10:45:10 AM

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That was C&D not Motortrend.

GermanNut - 1/10/2009 10:47:13 AM

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How about the R8 defeating the 911 Turbo again. This time in popularmechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4217681.html

How about magazine tests clearly explaining that the A8 is showing its age in the comparison test vs. the 2009 BMW 7-series. Convenient that you leave out the true facts Sailor.

Sailor is the epitome of a BMW fanboy.

GermanNut - 1/10/2009 11:50:27 AM

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Maybe the Europeans didn't want to test the Porsche 911 Turbo. Maybe Porsche couldn't give them one for their test date. I don't know why the Europeans didn't test the 911 Turbo. That's their problem, not mine. Well now you know Sailor that the R8 has indeed defeated the true firepowered daily driving 911 - the 911 Turbo.

Look at the A8 taking first place in or placing ahead of the older 7-series in various comparison tests:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/luxury/112_0409_luxury_sedan_comparison/2004_audi_a8l.html

http://www.germancarblog.com/2007/03/audi-a8-42-comparison-against-jaguar.html

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/2006_jaguar_super_v_8_vs_2007_m_b_s550_2006_audi_a8l_2007_lexus_ls460l_2006_bmw_750li_comparison_test+page-6.html

Thank you, Sailor, for finally understanding that fanboism only hurts this site.

GermanNut - 1/10/2009 12:54:44 PM

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Sailor I post facts about Audi, you post dumb truths and/or lies to make BMW look better.

Example: The 2009 7-series is better than the A8 that was launched in 2003.

No SHIT!

The R8 does defeat the Porsche 911 Turbo - on numerous occasions.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/10/2009 9:38:53 PM

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Wow... Audi is catching up with Mercedes. I don't think they will be passing BMW any time soon but if Mercedes sales continue to decline and Audi sales increase they will probably pass them next year.