[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Group reports best August sales ever, but U.S. sales down for the month

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Munich. With 121,615 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles sold worldwide last month (+9.7%, prev. yr. 110,903 units), the BMW Group achieved its best-ever August sales result. Since the beginning of the year the BMW Group has delivered 1,157,777 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 7.9% compared with the first eight months of the previous year (1,073,396).

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW: “We achieved record sales once again in August. Models such as the BMW 1 and BMW 3 Series, the BMW X1 and X3, as well as the BMW 6 Series reported strong gains and made a positive contribution to our record sales performance last month. We expect further gains in the coming months and we are absolutely on track to achieve a new sales record in 2012. We will continue to aim for a healthy balance in sales between Europe, Asia and the Americas, in both mature and emerging markets.”

BMW brand worldwide sales increased by 8.3% in August to 102,730 vehicles (prev. yr. 94,893). From January to August, 963,110 BMW brand vehicles were delivered, which was 7.8% higher than for the same period in the previous year (893,505). One of the main growth drivers in August was the BMW 1 Series – sales surged to 14.565 units, an increase of 91.0% over the previous year (7,627). Solid gains were achieved by the BMW 3 Series Sedan with 20.951 (prev. yr. 18.069/ +15.9%) units sold. Sales of the BMW 5 Series increased by 3.7% to 23,337 vehicles (prev. yr. 22,515). The newly modified BMW X1 had a successful start in its first full month in August with 11.039 vehicles delivered, an increase of 33.4% over the same month last year (prev. yr. 8,274). The BMW X3 continued its sales momentum with worldwide sales increasing 7.6% to 9,817 units (prev. yr. 9,126) in August. Sales for the BMW X6 climbed 22.0% in the reported month to 3,430 vehicles (prev. yr. 2,811).

The BMW 6 Series remains the clear leader in its segment with 1,747 vehicles delivered in August, an increase of 276.5% over the same month last year (prev. yr. 464).

MINI brand sales climbed +18.5% to 18,671 vehicles worldwide in August (prev. yr. 15,762). MINI had an excellent month in many of its larger markets such as the U.S. (5,718/ +83.9%), Great Britain (1,503/ +24.4%) and China (1,877/ +61.5%). Sales for MINI have increased by 8.3% to 192,652 vehicles in the first eight months of 2012 (prev. yr. 177,831).

The MINI Countryman remains one of the key growth drivers with 63.817 vehicles sold since the beginning of the year, an increase of +22.9% over the same period in 2011 (51,920).

Markets:

The BMW Group reported healthy gains in many of its markets last month.

In Asia, sales surged by 29.6% in August to 37,994 vehicles (prev. yr. 29,311). The BMW Group made strong gains in Asia in the first eight months of the year, with sales climbing by 25.6% to 312,052 vehicles (prev. yr. 248,515). Mainland China accounted for 25,377 deliveries in August, an increase of 37.5% over the same month in the previous year (18,462). Year-to-date, 207,425 BMW and MINI vehicles have been sold in Mainland China (prev. yr. 158,934) which reflects an increase of 30.5%.

In Europe, BMW Group sales grew last month by 5.0% to 49,349 vehicles (prev. yr. 47,021). In the first eight months, BMW Group sales were slightly over last year’s level, with a total of 547,355 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 546,770/ +0.1%). The new BMW 3 Series Touring, which accounts for two thirds of BMW 3 Series registrations in Germany, is expected to bring further momentum to sales in European markets with its launch this month.

In the Americas, the BMW Group delivered 29,142 vehicles in August (prev. yr. 29,916/ -2.6%). Since the beginning of the year, 256,838 vehicles were delivered to customers in the Americas, which reflected an increase of +6.7% on the previous year (240,792). The BMW Group in the U.S. reported August sales of 22,553 vehicles (prev. yr. 23,924/ -5.7%). Year-to-date, the BMW Group is up 7.6% on sales of 208,268 vehicles in the first eight months of 2012 compared to 193,565 in the same period in 2011. Sales in the U.S. are expected to accelerate in the coming months with the launch of the new BMW 3 Series with xDrive and the BMW X1 this month.

In the dynamic young markets of Russia (3,230 units / +27.2%), South Korea (2,766 units / +28.4% and Turkey (1,507 / +68.2%), BMW Group sales continued to be strong in August.

With 7,400 units, BMW Motorrad supplied more vehicles than ever before in the month of August. 11.3 % more vehicles were handed over to customers than in August 2011 (6,564). From January up to and including August 2012, BMW Motorrad supplied 76,729 (prev.yr. 78,280 units / -2.0 %) motorcycles and maxi scooters to its customers. Husqvarna Motorcycles supplied a total of 6,101 vehicles (prev.yr. 4,729 units / +29.0 %) to the Husqvarna dealer network up to and including August 2012. Supplies in the month of August totaled 372 vehicles (prev.yr. 335 units / +11%).

[GOLFFRR]

No complaints on our side, both our dealerships sold almost record amounts of cars for us in August. We def have seen an increase in "on lot" traffic as of late.

At our mini store suprisingly the hot car is the mini clubman. We have had a lot of interest in that model. The country man is also doing very well, but the clubman seems to be the hot model as of late for us.

[Karazy]

Was kinda surprised to see BMW Motorcycles are down 2% from the previous year. Beemer people are saving their jing for the new water cooled GS apparently.

[bimmerjph]

Interesting. I wonder how much the ATS had to do with BMWNA's poor numbers.

[FANBMWM]

It was also because od me because i purchased a fully loaded 650i cabrio

[Iron Man]

Boy, kind of glossed over the poor sales of passenger cars in the US.


Aug '12 Aug '11 % YTD Aug '12 YTD Aug '11 %
1 Series 477 641 -25.6% 5,020 5,898 -14.9%
3 Series 6,206 8,775 -29.3% 60,621 61,277 -1.1%
Z4 180 304 -40.8% 1,765 2,792 -36.8%
5 Series 1,688 4,294 -60.7% 35,139 33,899 3.7%
6 Series 453 207 118.8% 4,873 1,879 159.3%
7 Series 339 776 -56.3% 7,639 6,881 11.0%
X1 576 N/A N/A 576 N/A N/A
BMW passenger cars 9,919 14,997 -33.9% 115,633 112,626 2.7%

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

No complaints on our side, both our dealerships sold almost record amounts of cars for us in August. We def have seen an increase in "on lot" traffic as of late.

At our mini store suprisingly the hot car is the mini clubman. We have had a lot of interest in that model. The country man is also doing very well, but the clubman seems to be the hot model as of late for us.

The MINI Countryman is oxymoronic. That thing looks huge!

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

Interesting. I wonder how much the ATS had to do with BMWNA's poor numbers.

Good question, but I haven't seen one ATS on the street yet, and I live 2 miles from a big Cadillac dealer. I still don't see very many F30's on the streets and the car has been out a full year now right? I see more F12/13 6 series than I see F30's. Strange....

[Mbauer]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Boy, kind of glossed over the poor sales of passenger cars in the US.


Aug '12 Aug '11 % YTD Aug '12 YTD Aug '11 %
1 Series 477 641 -25.6% 5,020 5,898 -14.9%
3 Series 6,206 8,775 -29.3% 60,621 61,277 -1.1%
Z4 180 304 -40.8% 1,765 2,792 -36.8%
5 Series 1,688 4,294 -60.7% 35,139 33,899 3.7%
6 Series 453 207 118.8% 4,873 1,879 159.3%
7 Series 339 776 -56.3% 7,639 6,881 11.0%
X1 576 N/A N/A 576 N/A N/A
BMW passenger cars 9,919 14,997 -33.9% 115,633 112,626 2.7%

It's the YTD you got to look at. No f30 coupe or vert yet. 1's are getting the facelift. F25 has been good. Not a fan of the x1 but it drives nice.

[vladberca]

The second part of the year will be better

[InTheNightKitchen]

Sept is going to be retarded with the 9 trillion M5's sold to ED Bimmerpost members

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

Interesting. I wonder how much the ATS had to do with BMWNA's poor numbers.

I would hope a lot but unfortunately no ATS have hit the dealerships yet. Maybe a few smart folks are holding off for a bit to check it out.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by Alpine F31

Good question, but I haven't seen one ATS on the street yet, and I live 2 miles from a big Cadillac dealer. I still don't see very many F30's on the streets and the car has been out a full year now right? I see more F12/13 6 series than I see F30's. Strange....

I haven't seen many (f30) until a few week ago. Now it seems like I see them every day.

Yeah I know what you mean. I am pretty sure that I see more F01's/F02's than I have F30's. I am sure that will change, but after nearly 6 months on sale I would have thought there would be more.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by Fraggy

I would hope a lot but unfortunately no ATS have hit the dealerships yet. Maybe a few smart folks are holding off for a bit to check it out.

I checked my dealerships website, and you are correct. I guess with all of the ATS ads recently I figured they had gone on sale.

[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

I haven't seen many (f30) until a few week ago. Now it seems like I see them every day.

Yeah I know what you mean. I am pretty sure that I see more F01's/F02's than I have F30's. I am sure that will change, but after nearly 6 months on sale I would have thought there would be more.

Yeah I definitely see them everyday now... but I am surprised that they aren't selling better than what they are.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89

Yeah I definitely see them everyday now... but I am surprised that they aren't selling better than what they are.

The options and packaging constraints have turned a lot of people off because the car is now much more expensive to get the things you want. The idea of not being able to get a wood dash, sport seats and suspension isn't even an option and very anti-BMW if you think about it.

Now you have to get basically a fully loaded car to get some of the few options that you want rather than a la carte which is a huge price difference.

If I was buying I wouldn't buy the Nav, although I want it because I refuse to pay the additional money for the HUD that I can't use (polarized glasses) I'd rather put that money towards heats seats or Xenons. The Super size mentality died at McD but BMW now sees fit to use it even though value is not saving money on things you really do not want or need.

[wakedaze]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

The options and packaging constraints have turned a lot of people off because the car is now much more expensive to get the things you want. The idea of not being able to get a wood dash, sport seats and suspension isn't even an option and very anti-BMW if you think about it.

Now you have to get basically a fully loaded car to get some of the few options that you want rather than a la carte which is a huge price difference.

If I was buying I wouldn't buy the Nav, although I want it because I refuse to pay the additional money for the HUD that I can't use (polarized glasses) I'd rather put that money towards heats seats or Xenons. The Super size mentality died at McD but BMW now sees fit to use it even though value is not saving money on things you really do not want or need.

+1

When you add $20K+ of packages, options and accessories, BMW's quickly lose their appeal.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

The options and packaging constraints have turned a lot of people off because the car is now much more expensive to get the things you want. The idea of not being able to get a wood dash, sport seats and suspension isn't even an option and very anti-BMW if you think about it.

Now you have to get basically a fully loaded car to get some of the few options that you want rather than a la carte which is a huge price difference.

If I was buying I wouldn't buy the Nav, although I want it because I refuse to pay the additional money for the HUD that I can't use (polarized glasses) I'd rather put that money towards heats seats or Xenons. The Super size mentality died at McD but BMW now sees fit to use it even though value is not saving money on things you really do not want or need.

Originally Posted by wakedaze

+1

When you add $20K+ of packages, options and accessories, BMW's quickly lose their appeal.

What???? How much do you want to pay for an F30? I realize everyone has a budget they want to adhere to, but I cannot imagine many folks expect to pay less than $40K for an F30; moreover, I think most folks target something around $45K, give or take.

I can guarantee you that you can drive an F30 home with sport seats, xenons, and nav for a bit less than $45K, and that's for a 335 or 328. For example, base 328 + black leather, nav, lighting pack, dynamic handling pack, heated front seats, moonroof, alarm, auto high beams, and HK sound system has an MSRP of $45.9K, which in the worst of times, you can drive off the lot for $44K. Now one can certainly play around with it a bit, and add sport line and remove some of those stand alone options, but still there's no reason one cannot get a reasonably priced ($45K or so), well equipped F30. (E.G., if you want black seats, don't bother with leather? The leatherette is more durable anyway and once the leather smell is gone, people can't tell the difference. I know that because my first BMW had leatherette and everyone thought they were leather.)

Navigation is a stand alone option; you don't have to get HUD with it. Xenons are standard on the 335 and in the lighting package for the 328, which BTW costs the same as xenons did on the E9x. If you want the wood trim, have it; it's free. The only thing that'd make you have to compromise is if you don't want the standard seats and you want the M Sport seats. For that you have to go with the M Line, and would have to give up some of the elements noted above, but even so, you can get 328 with xenons, heated seats and nav at an MSRP below $45k.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by tony20009

What???? How much do you want to pay for an F30? I realize everyone has a budget they want to adhere to, but I cannot imagine many folks expect to pay less than $40K for an F30; moreover, I think most folks target something around $45K, give or take.

I can guarantee you that you can drive an F30 home with sport seats, xenons, and nav for a bit less than $45K, and that's for a 335 or 328. For example, base 328 + black leather, nav, lighting pack, dynamic handling pack, heated front seats, moonroof, alarm, auto high beams, and HK sound system has an MSRP of $45.9K, which in the worst of times, you can drive off the lot for $44K. Now one can certainly play around with it a bit, and add sport line and remove some of those stand alone options, but still there's no reason one cannot get a reasonably priced ($45K or so), well equipped F30. (E.G., if you want black seats, don't bother with leather? The leatherette is more durable anyway and once the leather smell is gone, people can't tell the difference. I know that because my first BMW had leatherette and everyone thought they were leather.)

Navigation is a stand alone option; you don't have to get HUD with it. Xenons are standard on the 335 and in the lighting package for the 328, which BTW costs the same as xenons did on the E9x. If you want the wood trim, have it; it's free. The only thing that'd make you have to compromise is if you don't want the standard seats and you want the M Sport seats. For that you have to go with the M Line, and would have to give up some of the elements noted above, but even so, you can get 328 with xenons, heated seats and nav at an MSRP below $45k.

They have made some changes (Maybe since MY 2013?) but the only way to get sports seats is in the Sports line or M Sport line and the only way to get a sport suspension is M Sport outside the M Adaptive but if I was not a BMW enthusiast they would have lost me as a customer with how the 2012 models were packaged.

My E90 M3 is fully loaded and in 2008 when I bought it was about the same price as a 335i now loaded... that is a steep inflation curve.

[TimothWinter]

I jumped the fence at the Hollywood Bowl in '79 and saw Waylon

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

They have made some changes (Maybe since MY 2013?) but the only way to get sports seats is in the Sports line or M Sport line and the only way to get a sport suspension is M Sport outside the M Adaptive but if I was not a BMW enthusiast they would have lost me as a customer with how the 2012 models were packaged.

My E90 M3 is fully loaded and in 2008 when I bought it was about the same price as a 335i now loaded... that is a steep inflation curve.

I agree with you about how one can obtain sport seats and a sport suspension. Any BMW I buy must have both and that does mean buying either sport or M Sport line, but only because of the seats. The M Adaptive suspension is available as an option on any F30, at least here in the US.

That said, the tone of your earlier post implied that it dismays you that one cannot get a few specific elements on an F30 and yet pay a reasonable price for the car. That simply isn't so, unless you consider $45K unreasonable.

I guess the pricing structures differ between the US and DE. Here the M3 starts at $60K now and fully loaded 335i xDrive is $60K (MSRP). I don't know what either of them cost in 2008.

Fully Loaded = everything except:

• Premium Package -- because lumbar support, though nice isn't worth $2200 and the rest of what's in this package adds little of real value.
• Driver's Assistance Plus -- because I don't drive sleepy and I can see that I'm about to crash into something in front of me. This package seems like a laser detector: once it tells you about the problem, it's too late to do anything about it anyway.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by tony20009

I agree with you about how one can obtain sport seats and a sport suspension. Any BMW I buy must have both and that does mean buying either sport or M Sport line, but only because of the seats. The M Adaptive suspension is available as an option on any F30, at least here in the US.

I am talking about the US- In Germany you can get everything a la carte but I am from the US and maintain a hone there.

Like I said above in MY 2012 there was nothing that was not bundles together- if you wanted Xenons you needed Premium, If you wanted Nav you needed HUD. Etc. There was no option for wood- this is how the US optioned stuff. See this http://www.f30post.com/forums/showth...ordering+guide

That choice of packaging in the US for MY 2012 I am sure scared a lot of people away...