The BMW Group began the new 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 (prev. yr. 70,419).
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “We started the new year well with healthy growth in sales, and are continuing the upward trend of the last few months. We have set ourselves ambitious goals for the full year 2010.
Thanks to the large number of new, highly-attractive models, such as the new BMW 5 Series and the MINI Countryman, we are aiming for growth in the single-digit percentage range for 2010, and intend to sell more than 1.3 million vehicles.”
In the month under review, sales of BMW brand automobiles climbed 15.9% to a total of 69,852 (prev. yr. 60,262). Strong gains were again reported by the major series, including the BMW 7 Series with 4,742 deliveries (+89.8% / prev. yr. 2,498), and the BMW X5 and X6 models with a combined total of 10,565 (+9.3% / prev. yr. 9,665) deliveries. The BMW Z4 was also among the growth drivers with 1,552 (+278.5% / prev. yr. 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 (prev. yr. 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% / prev. yr. 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% / prev. yr. 11,042). Ian Robertson: “We have already sold virtually all of the current BMW 5 Series Sedans, so there will be a relatively small volume of final deliveries of this model over the next two months.” Robertson added: “The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is receiving an enthusiastic response from the media and the public. From the second quarter on, the new model – together with the new, recently launched BMW X1 and BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo models – will give sales a further boost.” 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, no less than 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 the month under review. With 12,181 (prev. yr. 10,120) units sold, 20.4% more vehicles were delivered. Volumes increased for all three model series. In January 1,191 (+510.8% / prev. yr. 195) MINI Convertibles were delivered to customers. The MINI Clubman was sold to 2,003 customers last month (+5.2% / prev. yr. 1,904), while the MINI recorded 8,987 deliveries worldwide (+12.0% / prev. yr. 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 (prev. yr. 37) and was able to increase sales volumes by 135.1%.
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