[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Global Sales Continue to Grow

28
COMMENTS

Tweet

BMW Group global sales continue to grow.

• Record sales for BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad
• BMW Group automobile sales up 1.9% in April: 179,285 units
• Year-to-date sales total 736,931, up 4.9%
• Europe and Asia lead sales growth in first four months
• BMW i3 sales up 50.7% on same month last year
• Strong start for BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid

Munich,Germany- April 13, 2016... April saw the BMW Group’s steady growth in sales continue with BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad all achieving new records. In April, a total of 179,285 BMW Group automobiles were delivered to customers around the world, an increase of 1.9% on the same month last year. This on-going, sustainable growth is reflected in the year-to-date figures, with a total of 736,931 BMW Group vehicles sold in the first four months of 2016, 4.9% more than in the same period last year.

“Following on from our best-ever sales month in March, we have once again achieved sustainable and profitable levels of growth across the BMW Group product line-up,” said Dr Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing BMW. “Despite headwinds in some markets, the overall global picture remains positive for the year,” he added.

BMW brand sales achieved a new April sales high with a total of 150,542 vehicles delivered to customers worldwide, an increase of 1.1% compared with the very high sales of the same month last year. The brand’s year-to-date figures stand at 629,325 deliveries, an increase of 4.8% on the previous year. Whilst many vehicles within the product line-up have achieved increased sales this year, the BMW X models are the biggest growth drivers. Sales of the new BMW X1 have increased by 60.6% compared with the first four months of 2015, with a total of 63,243 delivered to customers worldwide. Double-digit growth was also achieved by the BMW X3: worldwide sales have climbed 18.4% to total 49,325. Other BMW models which achieved double-digit sales growth include the BMW 2 Series, with sales up 54.8% (59,407) and the BMW 7 Series, which grew sales by 15.8% in the first four months of the year (14,609).

April saw growing demand for the BMW Group’s increasing number of innovative vehicles with electric drive – a total of 4,504 pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold around the world in the month. The top three markets for these vehicles were the USA, Scandinavia and the UK. Sales of the all-electric BMW i3 increased 50.7% compared with the same month last year (1,854), with overall sales for BMW i up 29.4% on the month (2,181). Six months after market launch of the BMW X5 xDrive 40e plug-in hybrid, nearly 10% of all BMW X5s sold in April were the electrified version, with a total of 1,196 delivered to customers worldwide in the month.

Customer deliveries of MINI vehicles in April totalled 28,441 worldwide, an increase of 6.3% on the same month last year and a new record for the month. Year-to-date sales of the brand rose 5.6% to 106,753. The two newest members of the MINI line-up are driving the sales growth: sales of the MINI Convertible are up 12.0% to total 5,849 worldwide in the first four months of the year while sales of the MINI Clubman in the same period total 16,409.

Europe continues to be a strong growth driver for BMW and MINI sales, with deliveries in the first four months of 2016 totalling 341,195 units, an increase of 9.9% compared with the same period last year. Almost all markets in the region have achieved sales growth in the year-to-date, with double-digit increases recorded in several markets including France (27,784 / +12.2%), Spain (17,884 / +20.6%) and Scandinavia (17,491 / +14.4%).

Year-to-date deliveries of BMW and MINI vehicles in Asia increased by 6.2% compared with the same period last year, with a total of 234,463 units delivered to customers in the region. In Mainland China, deliveries rose 6.0% (162,221), sales in South Korea climbed 15.6% (19,550) and deliveries in Japan rose 6.7% (22,936).

In the Americas, year-to-date sales of BMW and MINI vehicles are down 8.1%, with a total of 138,033 units delivered to customers. Total sales of 111,199 in the USA are 10.1% down on the same period last year, as supply to the market is currently being rebalanced in order to take account of increasing demand for SAV models. Deliveries in Canada are up 9.3% (13,197) and sales in Mexico in the year-to-date rose 7.1% (9,766).

BMW Motorrad continued its run of record sales in April with deliveries up 1.4% (16,793). Around the world, a total of 50,581 BMW motorcycles and maxi-scooters have been delivered to customers so far in 2016 (+5.5%).

[Destroya]

What a disconnect between sales in America and those in Europe and Asia. How to account for this?

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Destroya

What a disconnect between sales in America and those in Europe and Asia. How to account for this?

This is a very general view but North America (USA) was always BMW's biggest market until recently. I think China (in 2015) was BMW's largest market followed by the U.S. and then Germany? It's been no secret that BMW has upped the marketing over in Asia and I would assume its the same for Europe where BMW had a very small presence compared to North America.

[timcschmidt]

Originally Posted by Destroya

What a disconnect between sales in America and those in Europe and Asia. How to account for this?

The luxury car market in Asia is growing a lot faster than the market in North America and Europe. While BMW is selling more cars than last year, it is loosing market share also in those high growth markets. For comparison, Daimler's yoy global growth in deliveries for April is >10%. If a market is expanding, you can sell more than last year but still loose to your competitors.

[timcschmidt]

Daimler numbers for april

[Zebra99]

They're sales are growing and so are the price tags lol. I still can't believe that you can end up spending close to $100k to get a loaded M3.

Much better things I can do with that money and so many other options. I wish they would start making more options standard like Honda has been doing. I know it's not apples to apples comparison, but the simple fact that all BMW's don't come with BMW Apps package is a complete joke. Their cheapest car starts in the mid 30's and you can't get f'n Bluetooth connect? Seriously!?

[autopal]

Originally Posted by timcschmidt

Daimler numbers for april

If you remove the non-luxury from both companies numbers (ie BMW's Mini and MB's Smart) the numbers are even more telling.

Mercedes April -164,063
BMW - 150,542.

Year to date, Mercedes lead is just over 18,000 units. It's gonna be hard for BMW to retain the sales crown this year, both globally and in the US

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by autopal

If you remove the non-luxury from both companies numbers (ie BMW's Mini and MB's Smart) the numbers are even more telling.

Mercedes April -164,063
BMW - 150,542.

Year to date, Mercedes lead is just over 18,000 units. It's gonna be hard for BMW to retain the sales crown this year, both globally and in the US

Yeah. With a combination of an aging 3er and highly successful relaunch of the W205 C-Class, BMW just got caught in a bad situation. When the W205 got released in the second half of 2014, I thought Mercedes was a going to take the sales crown last year with a full year of sales so it was only a matter of time before sales of the C-Class were going to put Mercedes in the lead. Even with the G30 5er expected to go on sale late this year in some regions, it's not going to do much to lessen the gap.

[autopal]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Yeah. With a combination of an aging 3er and highly successful relaunch of the W205 C-Class, BMW just got caught in a bad situation. When the W205 got released in the second half of 2014, I thought Mercedes was a going to take the sales crown last year with a full year of sales so it was only a matter of time before sales of the C-Class were going to put Mercedes in the lead. Even with the G30 5er expected to go on sale late this year in some regions, it's not going to do much to lessen the gap.

The new G30 5er wont do anything to close the gap, because Mercedes new E class is also ready, and the E class usually outsells the 5 series

[vladberca]

I don't know why they don't realease the LCI for 4 series sooner.
Now the 3 series is the oldest from the trio, and only 4 series can push the sales better.
Overall this will be an easy year for Merc to win the sales battle.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by autopal

If you remove the non-luxury from both companies numbers (ie BMW's Mini and MB's Smart) the numbers are even more telling.

Mercedes April -164,063
BMW - 150,542.

Year to date, Mercedes lead is just over 18,000 units. It's gonna be hard for BMW to retain the sales crown this year, both globally and in the US

Remove the commercial models too. As Daimler incorporates them into its totals.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by autopal

The new G30 5er wont do anything to close the gap, because Mercedes new E class is also ready, and the E class usually outsells the 5 series

The 5er F10 is the best selling mid-line executive sedan. With over two million F10 have been sold since its introduction in 2010.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Zebra99

They're sales are growing and so are the price tags lol. I still can't believe that you can end up spending close to $100k to get a loaded M3.

Much better things I can do with that money and so many other options. I wish they would start making more options standard like Honda has been doing. I know it's not apples to apples comparison, but the simple fact that all BMW's don't come with BMW Apps package is a complete joke. Their cheapest car starts in the mid 30's and you can't get f'n Bluetooth connect? Seriously!?

Instead of spending close to $100k on an M3, why not just buy five Honda Civics?

You could also buy a Porsche....Porsche is known for their generous standard feature list...

[Zebra99]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Instead of spending close to $100k on an M3, why not just buy five Honda Civics?

Then you rent them out as a fleet and make $$&&

Genius! ???

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Zebra99

Then you rent them out as a fleet and make $$&&

Genius! ???

WHY HASN'T SOMEONE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE?!?!

[Matski]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

This is a very general view but North America (USA) was always BMW's biggest market until recently. I think China (in 2015) was BMW's largest market followed by the U.S. and then Germany? It's been no secret that BMW has upped the marketing over in Asia and I would assume its the same for Europe where BMW had a very small presence compared to North America.

Overly general.

If we go back only 10 years, the Germany & UK alone accounted for far more than the USA. Ten years before that, USA was half what Germany alone was doing. It's a bit of an assumption, or myth, that the USA was/is such a big deal for BMW, I mean, as a single country it is a big market, but I don't think it has ever accounted for much more than 20% of sales, at its peak.

[autopal]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The 5er F10 is the best selling mid-line executive sedan. With over two million F10 have been sold since its introduction in 2010.

in 2015, BMW sold 44,162 5 series in the US, down from 52,704 in 2014
Mercedes sold 49,736 E class in 2015, down from 66,403 in 2014.

These are just USA figures, I don't have global figures, but I don't believe the 5 series will close the gap with Mercedes, and that was primarily my point

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by autopal

in 2015, BMW sold 44,162 5 series in the US, down from 52,704 in 2014
Mercedes sold 49,736 E class in 2015, down from 66,403 in 2014.

These are just USA figures, I don't have global figures, but I don't believe the 5 series will close the gap with Mercedes, and that was primarily my point

I think the E-Class has outsold the 5er for a while now, at least in North America. The only vehicles that sell well vs. the competition is the 3er, X3 and X5.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Matski

Overly general.

If we go back only 10 years, the Germany & UK alone accounted for far more than the USA. Ten years before that, USA was half what Germany alone was doing. It's a bit of an assumption, or myth, that the USA was/is such a big deal for BMW, I mean, as a single country it is a big market, but I don't think it has ever accounted for much more than 20% of sales, at its peak.

Asia is the region I am more or less associated with. And China overtook the US as BMWs no 1 market in 2012. It was on the strength of this that led to China market decisions on the X1 and X3 Li but also the upcoming compact Sedan.
Projection wise we are expecting big things from the new sedan as we have already started our step by step marketing plan by gaining demographic interest in this entirely new concept from a premium manufacturer.

Its a youthful car aimed at customers of the C-segment who would like a BMW but cannot reach financially? Or are limited to pre-owned.
Given BMWs reputation as a youthful brand in China and across Asia in General it is no surprise the amount of "Fake BMW" in other words domestics with BMW badges or kidney grilles that can be found amongst the populations youth.

The car is being tested across special clinics and it is strategic to have all options available to customers within a window from standard launch and that includes M Performance plus accessories and iPerformance PHEV.

Its acceptance in China is key for introduction to other global markets.
But given what we have seen so far projections for the new car are considerable as the C-segment in China is still growing when luxury sales are declining.
Potentially we are looking at at least 100,000 units by at least eighteen months(projected).

[raysspl]

Well that's really good 2 hear

[goj]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Yeah. With a combination of an aging 3er and highly successful relaunch of the W205 C-Class, BMW just got caught in a bad situation. When the W205 got released in the second half of 2014, I thought Mercedes was a going to take the sales crown last year with a full year of sales so it was only a matter of time before sales of the C-Class were going to put Mercedes in the lead. Even with the G30 5er expected to go on sale late this year in some regions, it's not going to do much to lessen the gap.

It's all about product life cycle. MB has released a ton of new models recently, good for them! People like to flock to the all new models for good reason. Just wait until the new 3 and 5, and the 1er to compete with the A3 and CLA.

From a business standpoint, the fact that numbers are still growing YoY I'm most months is pretty amazing considering the slight economic lull the US is in as well as being middle/end of life cycle with key models

[bodonx]

Originally Posted by goj

It's all about product life cycle. MB has released a ton of new models recently, good for them! People like to flock to the all new models for good reason. Just wait until the new 3 and 5, and the 1er to compete with the A3 and CLA.

From a business standpoint, the fact that numbers are still growing YoY I'm most months is pretty amazing considering the slight economic lull the US is in as well as being middle/end of life cycle with key models

New 7 series sales is very poor compared S-class although it's 2 yrs newer.

The new 7 series is supposed to give G platform preview of what will come.

Unless BMW fix it quick, it's going to be hell for the rest of the new generation (3,4,5,X).