Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles climbed 7.5% in April.

155,419 vehicles sold last month, an increase of 6.8%
Highest sales in first four months with 603,619 vehicles
Strong gains in Asia and the Americas

Munich. The BMW Group continued on its successful course in April with an increase of 6.8% in sales. A total of 155,419 (prev. yr. 145,541) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were sold worldwide last month. Over the past four months the number of deliveries climbed 5.7% to a new all-time high of 603,619 vehicles (prev. yr. 571,084).

"We have achieved our most successful April worldwide sales ever, despite the current weakness of some car markets in Europe. We reported a growth of 2.8% in Europe last month and made strong gains in Asia and the Americas. This momentum in worldwide sales will continue as we add new vehicles throughout the year to our very attractive product line-up, such as the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo", said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing BMW, in Munich on Monday.

Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles climbed 7.5% to 130,598 (prev. yr. 121,507) in the month under review. Demand for the BMW X1 remained strong with 11,837 vehicles delivered in April, an increase of 14.8% over the same month last year (10,310). The BMW 3 Series also reported strong gains with a total of 38,491 vehicles delivered to customers, an increase of 16.0% compared to last year (33,192). The BMW 3 Series Touring contributed to this growth, with 8,358 units delivered last month, an increase of 104.6% on the previous year (4,085). The BMW 5 Series reaffirmed its position as segment leader, with 29,955 units delivered last month (prev. yr. 26,770/ +11.9%). Growth was further driven by the BMW 6 Series which was delivered to 2,200 customers worldwide in April (prev. yr. 1,559/ +41.1%). A total of 512,000 BMW vehicles (prev. yr. 478,069) have been delivered to customers worldwide since the start of the year - an increase of 7.1%.

MINI: With 24,581 vehicles delivered in April, worldwide sales for MINI increased by 3.3% (prev. yr. 23,794). In the month under review, MINI achieved solid growth in retail sales in some of its key markets such as Great Britain/Ireland (3,393/ +43.6%), and China (2,038/ +7.0%). The new MINI Paceman has had a successful start with around 1,500 vehicles delivered to customers since its launch in mid-March. Year-to-date, MINI sales are around last year's level with 90,737 units sold in the first four months (prev. yr. 92,005/ -1.4%).

BMW Motorrad also achieved an increase in sales in April. Deliveries climbed 11.5% to reach a total of 14,587 (prev. yr. 13,088) vehicles. Year-to-date, 39,319 BMW motorcycles have been delivered, an increase of 5.0% (prev. yr. 37,461).

The BMW Group made gains on nearly all continents in the month under review. The company achieved robust sales in Asia with 43,872 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 39,769/ +10.3%). China accounted for 30,311 deliveries, an increase of 11.4% over the same month last year (prev. yr. 27,197) in China.

Sales were solid in The Americas with 36,547 vehicles delivered in April (prev. yr. 32,705/ +11.7%). In the U.S., 29,011 vehicles were delivered in April which reflects an increase of +8.3% over the same month last year (26,793).

In Europe, sales increased by 2.8% to 69,957 vehicles (prev. yr. 68,070). Several markets attained solid growth in April, for example Belgium/Luxembourg (4,499/ +13.9%) and Russia (3,489/ +7.5%).
Read Article

GermanNut - 5/13/2013 9:29:32 AM

-7 Boost

Although global sales of BMW brand vehicles are up 7.1% YTD to 512,000 units, Audi is close behind with global sales up 6.7% YTD to 503,000 units.

That is a difference of just 9,000 units globally or 1.75% between the two brands.

The global sales race should be very interesting once the Audi A3 sedan is launched in some markets at the end of 2013 and in the U.S. in Q1 of 2014.

Satriani1 - 5/13/2013 12:01:24 PM

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Worldwide sales in April 2013 (and year-to-date):

1. Audi brand vehicles: 133,500 (YTD: 503,000)

2. BMW brand vehicles: 130,598 (YTD: 512,000)

3. Mercedes brand vehicles: 116,566 (YTD: 441,464)

http://tinyurl.com/cj52txs

http://tinyurl.com/cwc7xez

http://tinyurl.com/ccmpl9q

The first few sentences of this article (including title) are confusing.
- the title "Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles climbed 7.5% in April" refers to BMW brand vehicles.
- the next two sentences "155,419 vehicles sold last month, an increase of 6.8%. Highest sales in first four months with 603,619 vehicles." refers to total sales of BMW GROUP vehicles (e.g., in April, the BMW Group's sales also includes almost 25,000 Mini brand and Rolls Royce brand vehicles in addition to 130,598 from BMW brand).

bmwm6 - 5/13/2013 12:33:11 PM

+5 Boost

Not that sales indicate a brand is better car, as some manufacures numbers are sckewed toward the bottom end if the market segment. Once BMW & Mercedes venture more down market like some rivals they should see even nicer gains. Anyway great numbers BMW! Last year at this time BMW was only 6,730 units a head of Audi. This year they are 9000. BMW has a lot of new models around the corner too, 2013 will be another record year. Glad to see the Audi fanboys are soo interested though. Good stuff.

GermanNut - 5/13/2013 12:49:07 PM

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Glad to see the BMW fanboys so worried about Audi's sales numbers.

bmwm6 - 5/13/2013 12:53:26 PM

+3 Boost

Lol, right. That's why you have the first post on this article about BMW.

Satriani1 - 5/13/2013 1:32:58 PM

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What's more interesting is sales growth for year to date 2013 (first four months) compared to first four months of 2012:

1. Audi 6.7%

2. BMW 5.7%

3. Mercedes 5.6%

At these growth rates, it remains within the realm of reality for Audi to overtake BMW by year end 2013. Audi had a 3,000 unit sales lead over BMW in April -- three more months of this will wipe out BMW's 9,000 year to date sales lead.

Audi's growth rates will increase once more Americans realize that more Audi car models are better than BMW car models.

I have posted many German car magazine comparisons which conclude the Audi A8, A7, A6, A3 are better cars than comparable BMW products. When the new Audi A4 and A5 come out next year, it is likely they will eclipse the BMW 3 and 4 series as well.

bmwm6 - 5/13/2013 2:06:09 PM

+3 Boost

Yes 2012's numbers are interesting, but we all know how 2012 ended. Relevant 2013 numbers bmw is up 7.1 YTD, Audi 6.6 YTD.

Firewombat - 5/13/2013 3:33:59 PM

+3 Boost

Oh yes, all those important German magazines, btw your google translate version of those is atrocious. If you're going to quote those you might want to learn the language.

Any test that involves a BMW or Merc vs a Skoda or Seat is a joke. Cheap front-wheel drive cars with better driving dynamics than a rear-wheel drive BMW? Pah.Lease.

The German motoring press prefers the Golf 7 to the A3, that's a fact. Even if it's the same platform, not a win for Audi.

You might want to keep in mind that if we believe everything we read we would believe there were WMDs in Iraq, etc. Just because it's in a magazine does not mean it's true.

Can't wait to the see the new A4 and A5, or is that the A1 or the A6, or the A8. Can't tell, they all look the same, nothing to look forward to except blandness on a massive scale.

Oh, and front-wheel drive, that is, after all, truth in engineering isn't it? Front nose heavy Jettas. Can't wait.

GermanNut - 5/13/2013 4:04:32 PM

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Firewombat obviously chooses to ignore Audi's new and heavily-publicized upcoming change in design strategy:

https://www.audi-mediaservices.com/publish/ms/content/en/public/pressemitteilungen/2012/11/06/audi_design_close-up.html

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 3:19:36 AM

+3 Boost

@GermanNut, I don't care what they say they are going to do, I'm basing my opinion on what they have done so far and so I doubt they are going to risk sales by messing with design, since they are doing so well hey?

Heavily publicized? What a joke. No, sorry, I don't sign into www.AudiFanboy.de every day to get the scoop on what's going on with them. We'll just rely on you to shove that information down our throats here.

Satriani1 - 5/14/2013 5:52:15 PM

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Firewombat: So you think you know more than German car magazines about German cars? Lol.

Autozeitung is highly competent in testing numerous cars on their own test track (see link). If they assess the Skoda and Seat as having better driving dynamics than the BMW and Merc -- they know much more than you do. about cars.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/autozeitung_test_track.html

I doubt you understand anything about automotive beauty. To you the BMW Grand Turismo probably looks like Miss Universe.

I'm using the Google Translate version so readers can follow their own Google Translate of the links. Google Translate's version is close to the actual meaning.

I already knew there were no WMDs in Iraq years before the 2003 invasion. The facts were already available.

Razorbacks - 5/15/2013 9:24:32 AM

0 Boost

"...and so I doubt they are going to risk sales by messing with design, since they are doing so well hey?"

They changed the ENTIRE front end across the entire lineup as their sales were increasing back in 2005!

Firewombat - 5/15/2013 2:40:01 PM

+2 Boost

@Razorbacks no, they changed the entire line-up because their history had not provided them with a grill, like merc or BMW, so that had to invent one to keep up with the crowd. And now it's all sausages with grills.

Firewombat - 5/15/2013 2:51:25 PM

+2 Boost

@Razorbacks yeah, they changed the entire line-up because their history of design didn't give them a uniformed grill.

They looked at the other Germans and their grills and decided to create on of their own, to create some kind of identity they could not harness from the designs before. And what a beautiful grill it is, large, expansive, overwhelming, challenging, the list goes on. Slap that thing on a sausage and you have an Audi. Awesome.

Firewombat - 5/15/2013 2:55:18 PM

+2 Boost

@Satriani, no one has heard of that website / magazine and putting average priced cars against premium brands is just stupid. If you're going to carry on with this German magazine BS, at least quote from autobild.de or auto-motor-und-sport.de, the 2 most recoginzed and respected. And maybe learn some of the language, so you can actually understand the opinions.

GermanNut - 5/13/2013 2:19:09 PM

-5 Boost

Yes, bmwm6, the BMW brand has seen a larger percentage increase in global sales YTD than Audi (7.1% for BMW vs. 6.7% for Audi), but Audi is not far behind, .4% to be exact. The battle is very close, less than 10,000 units or 1.75% globally.

We still have 8 months to go...

Firewombat - 5/13/2013 3:20:36 PM

+6 Boost

Why can't we just love cars @Germannut? Why does it have to come down to statistical analysis to prove that? Should I buy an Audi because they may be the no.1 luxury car brand in a year or 2?

Your insecurities revolving around this obsession where you have to try and prove your brand is better just ruins the genuine passion people have for cars and car manufacturers.

You know what they say about being powerful, if your have to tell people, you aren't.

And that's just you, trying your best to scream from the rooftops about your brand, but if they were that good, they wouldn't need you. You're racing against yourself. Get a hobby.

GermanNut - 5/13/2013 4:10:05 PM

-5 Boost

Firewombat, Autospies has had and continues to have (although it has greatly improved) its fair share of posters that have disregard for the Audi brand and trash it in favor of pro-BMW propaganda to the point where Audi's image was being hurt by 100% false and misleading information.

Those users have since been banned from posting on Autospies, but I want to educate the community about how Audi is an incredible company that is a leader in terms of automotive design, technology, luxury, innovation and performance.

The BMW fanboys need to be dealt with and it appears that I have another partner who shares my vision in Satrian1.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 3:22:33 AM

+4 Boost

That's ironic because I don't know of any worse fanboys than your 2 accounts, you and @satriani, proven now to be one person based on your last post.

In fact, the last menace on this site, @ClevelendSteamer, was banned and he was an Audi Fanboy so I don't know what BMW Fanboys you're talking about?

Is the other partner another side to your personality? #concerned

GermanNut - 5/14/2013 9:36:17 AM

-4 Boost

I don't know of anyone who goes more off-topic than Firewombat and resorts to personal attacks claiming Satrian1 and I are the same person.

Stick to the Audi vs. BMW debate if you want to remain relevant to this site, Firewombat.

Just because I thanked the Agents for posting my article, you claim I was thanking myself. You obviously don't know how articles get posted to Autospies.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 10:41:22 AM

+4 Boost

At least it's not threatening people like you do when you get too frustrated when you can't win an argument.

No matter what article it is, you try to quote Audi sales figures, or media articles, whether it's an article about sales or not. It's you that cannot stay on topic and you that is constantly pushing the argument topics you would rather discuss.

Razorbacks - 5/15/2013 9:19:53 AM

0 Boost

You ARE threatening people when you claim they have dupe accounts yet can't actually prove it! What does it even have to do with the topic anyways? You could easily get verification from one of the agents, report it then have the dupe account removed...but that would actually require effort and be true to begin with, which it obviously isn't.

GermanNut - 5/14/2013 2:27:59 PM

-3 Boost

You always have to get the last word, don't you Firewombat?

I bring up the Audi sales figures because they are relevant. Whether its an article on Mercedes-Benz's sales figures or BMW's sales figures, how Audi is doing in comparison is of obvious importance.

Threatening people? I only said if you continue to post your pro-BMW arguments that are nonsensical at times, I would continue to defend the Audi brand.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 2:45:48 PM

+4 Boost

That's sweet, I can actually quote the post where you told me you would "not stop with me" until I leave this site.

Am I worried about you're threat? Please. You have a one track mind and the only reason you bring up me having the last word is because you end up giving up in EVERY one of our "arguments" and moving on.

Not once have you been determined to carry on because you have no argument. You'll bring up Audi wherever BMW or sometimes Merc are mentioned.

You can't help yourself, just like this post, and that's why you're never on topic, it's always trying to bring some factor in to save face. You end up looking ridiculous.

GermanNut - 5/14/2013 2:58:17 PM

-3 Boost

Yeah, okay delusional Firewombat. You just go on a personal attack claiming Satrian1 and I are the same person....talk about giving up.

I just defend my arguments so well that you are forced to go off-topic and resort to personal attacks that are incorrect because you have nothing left to say.

GermanNut - 5/14/2013 3:01:04 PM

-3 Boost

You obviously want to ignore the fact that Audi is relevant to BMW and is actually threatening BMW's precious global sales lead. You would rather not hear about Audi, but when I bring it up you claim it's off-topic.

I obviously have no problem following through on my claim that I will continue to face-off with you and prove my point time and again where I feel it needs to be mentioned.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 3:36:11 PM

+2 Boost

I would love to hear about Audi news, they make some good cars.

Would I like to hear about Audi news on every article regarding BMW, Mercedes etc. NO.

The only thing you have faced off is your face. You are a nuisance and you ruin the browsing experience for a lot of people here.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 3:36:51 PM

+1 Boost

same person

Razorbacks - 5/15/2013 9:18:01 AM

0 Boost

Hilarious, this firewombat talks about posters being nuisances yet look at EVERY article that germannut or satriani1 post in, then notice it is ALWAYS this idiot negatively responding to them, accusing them of having dupe accounts and going off-topic. Just do a search by his name, go to any BMW or Audi post and you'll see exactly that. Then he whines about the site being clogged despite being the ONLY one trolling other posters than trying to take the high road!

Firewombat - 5/15/2013 2:56:50 PM

+2 Boost

@Razorbacks. funny, wherever I post you seem to be there insulting me, so you're doing the same exact thing you're accusing me of. Hypocritical.

GermanNut - 5/14/2013 3:48:42 PM

+1 Boost

Satrian1 and I are not the same person.

Firewombat - 5/14/2013 4:47:35 PM

+1 Boost

exactly the same

Satriani1 - 5/14/2013 5:53:51 PM

0 Boost

Firewombat: Stop being paranoid. You sound exactly the same as three other bimmer fanboys.

Firewombat - 5/15/2013 2:47:35 PM

+1 Boost

The only paranoid one here is you / Gnut

GermanNut - 5/16/2013 5:14:57 PM

+1 Boost

Firewombat clearly is unable to stick to the topic at hand and goes off on completely unrelated attacks against other posters.

Firewombat - 5/17/2013 3:55:50 AM

+1 Boost

Just like you :)