BMW Sales Recovery Falters - Down 27.8% - Mini Falls 27%

BMW Brand Sales

With 18,383 vehicles sold, the BMW brand reported its best month so far this year. Compared to the 25,469 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago, this is a decrease of 27.8 percent. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 30.5 percent to 76,819 vehicles compared to 110,569 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.

"This month, the Northeast and Midwest showed signs of buyers' interest and that's a positive aspect for the whole premium market," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "We have been seeing all year, customers remain cautious, and when they shop for premium products they are buying brands that have a history of value, dependability and enduring quality. This has helped sales in our core 3 Series, 5 Series and X5 range."

The company's Ultimate Service including the four-year, no cost maintenance program combined with one of the highest residual values in the industry further contributes to BMW being a safe and secure purchase in this environment.

In May, the BMW 3 Series reached an important milestone in the U.S. with over two million units sold since the launch of the first 3 Series (320i) in November 1976. The BMW 3 Series has remained the unrivaled benchmark in the premium segment for more than 30 years.


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GermanNut - 6/2/2009 10:13:14 PM

-5 Boost

BMW's huge reliance on the U.S. market will once again be the main reason for their much larger global sales decline when compared to Audi for the month of May.

Look at the 1-series and X3 getting crushed. BMW can thank Audi's Q5 for stealing sales from the X3.

JRobUSC - 6/3/2009 10:20:13 AM

+2 Boost

wow, seriously, do you ever stop being an Audi salesman? Why don't you flip that around -- perhaps Audi could thank BMW for essentially stopping production of the X3 for an entire year. I'll be the first to tell you the X3 isn't as good as the Q5, but the X3 having no availability (and costing $700/mo to lease, same as an X5) has helped Audi sell Q5's more than the existence of the Q5 has hurt the X3.

Like I said, the Q5 is a better vehicle, no question, which it should be since it's 5 years newer. In fact the Q5 is probably the best vehicle in the class. BUT being the best doesn't always mean having the highest sales, or the GLK, which has pretty much come in last in every comparison, wouldn't have outsold the Q5 for the month.

investor27 - 6/3/2009 12:15:13 AM

0 Boost

Look at the 5 series. It actually sold more than last year. I don't think I have seen any car, from any company, selling more than last year's numbers. That is just amazing! Or is it a misprint?

dayday - 6/3/2009 12:42:39 AM

+1 Boost

and 5 series is actually in the last production year. that's even more impressive... the x1 is coming soon too.

ChiAutoGuy - 6/3/2009 8:57:13 AM

+1 Boost

The 5 Series has been heavily discounted and incented pending the new model coming out shortly - this probably explains more than anything how well it is doing...

Any idea/data on how the diesels are doing in the US?

investor27 - 6/3/2009 11:44:10 AM

0 Boost

Heavily discounted? How much? I dropped by a few BMW dealership in Chicago when I was there on a business trip at the beginning of May and these guys weren't budging much on the sales price at all.