BMW Group with 109,923 deliveries in July

MINI sales increase for first time since September 2008

Munich. The BMW Group’s sales were once again impacted by weak economic conditions on the international markets – as was the entire automobile industry. In the past month the company delivered 109,923 (prev.yr. 125,792 / -12.6%) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles worldwide. As such, the decrease in sales volumes was again slightly lower than in previous months. From January to the end of July, 725,377 (prev.yr. 890,662 / -18.6%) vehicles were delivered to customers.

The MINI brand achieved a slight increase in sales of 0.3% for the first time since September 2008, with 19,281 (prev.yr. 19,224) deliveries worldwide in July. The new MINI Convertible (3,695 units / +48.5%), which has been available since late March, and the MINI One models (available as Hatch and Clubman, with sales of 3,670 vehicles / + 78.4%) in particular contributed to the gains. In Germany the brand reported its best July sales ever (3,207/ +16.1%), while in its domestic U.K. market (2,819 / +20.7%) and in traditionally high-volume Western European markets such as Italy (1,700 / +20.2%) and France (1,521 / +3.1%), MINI also made major gains in July. For the year to the end of July, 120,813 MINI cars were sold (prev.yr. 146,040 / -17.3%).

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “Our sales performance again improved slightly in July – and MINI was even back on its growth path. Over the course of the next months we will see BMW Group sales continue their gradual upward trend – not least as a result of several new models. I am confident we will continue to expand our market position in the premium segment for 2009 as a whole and be able to maintain our position as leading premium manufacturer.”

Although BMW brand deliveries were down 14.9% (90,597 / prev.yr. 106,466) in the month under review, several model series were able to make strong gains in July. For instance, sales of the BMW 7 Series climbed 57.9% to reach a total of 4,631 (prev.yr. 2,933) units. In its domestic market of Germany the 7 Series remains the clear market leader in the luxury limousine segment with 660 new registrations (prev.yr. 322 / +105.0%). The new BMW Z4 (3,293 units / +123.4%) launched in May and the BMW X6 (3,714 units / +42.1%) received an excellent response worldwide in July. Over the coming months the launch of a number of new models will give sales a further boost. For instance, a four-wheel drive version of the BMW 7 Series will be released for the first time in the autumn. Autumn will also see the X1 and the 5 Series Gran Turismo enter the market, where each will create new segments. M versions of the BMW X5 and BMW X6 will also join the BMW model range in the summer. For the year to the end of July, a total of 604,190 (prev.yr. 744,025 / -18.8%) BMW automobiles were sold.

The BMW Group’s sales again performed extremely well in the emerging markets of China, India and Brazil in July. In China the company delivered 38.9% more vehicles (7,623 / prev.yr. 5,489) in the month under review; India made gains of 30.5% to reach a total of 261 deliveries (prev.yr. 200); in Brazil customer deliveries climbed 168.6% in July to 607 vehicles (prev.yr.: 226). The BMW Group also reported gains in France (6,521 / +5.0%), Switzerland (1,954 / +4.1%), Austria (1,459 / +7.8%), Canada (2,840 / +7.6%), Australia (1,547 / +17.3%), the markets of the Middle East (1,190 / +1.4%) and South Korea (1,000 / +27.1%).

The Rolls Royce brand reported a decline in sales of 55.9% (45 units / prev.yr.: 102) in July. For the year to the end of July 374 vehicles were delivered to customers around the world (prev. 597 / -37.4%).

Difficult conditions on the global markets continued to impact motorcycle sales in July. In the month under review the BMW Group sold 9,604 (prev.yr. 10,679) motorcycles: a decline of 10.1%. For the year to the end of July, 56,578 (prev.yr. 66,612 / -15.1%) units were delivered to customers. The BMW Group is also expanding its model range in the motorcycles segment. The new F 800 R has been available for delivery since May, and the road version of the S 1000 RR racing machine will come onto the market towards the end of the year.

BMW Group sales in/up to July 2009 at a glance
In July 2009 Comp. to previous year Up to and incl. July 2009 Comp. to previous year
BMW Group Automobiles 109,923 -12.6% 725,377 -18.6%
BMW 90,597 -14.9% 604,190 -18.8%
MINI 19,281 +0.3% 120,813 -17.3%
Rolls-Royce 45 -55.9% 374 -37.4%
BMW Motorcycles 9,604 -10.1% 56,578 -15.1%

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