[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Aiming for 2 Million Annual Sales by 2016, 2.5 Million by 2020

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According to Autonews, citing Germany's Manager Magazin (which cited BMW company sources), BMW's goal is to sell 2 million cars annually by 2016 and upwards of 2.5 or 2.6 million vehicles by 2020.

BMW sold 1.46 million vehicles in 2010 (source), so these goals would represent an increase of over half a million annual vehicle sales over just four years time and over 1 million annual vehicle sales increase in eight years.

How does BMW plan to achieve these lofty sales figures? With a focus on its new range of small cars, which will include the future range of FWD BMWs, and electric vehicles (including the i3 and i8).

To accomodate the expected large increase in production, BMW will be adding to its production capacity aggressively by opening new production plants in eastern Europe, Mexico, or the US, including one with an annual production capacity of up to 250,000 cars. Other plants are reportedly planned in Russia and Brazil, while an existing plant in South Africa is being expanded.

It's a good thing BMW has grand plans for adding sales because rival Audi also has big ambitions - to nearly double its annual sales to 2 million vehicles by 2020.

[bdardashti]

This probably includes MINI as well? They sell a hundred thousand or two as well, if I'm not mistaken.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by bdardashti

This probably includes MINI as well? They sell a hundred thousand or two as well, if I'm not mistaken.

That's correct. They sold 234,000 MINIs last year.

[M5007]

That is ambitious. I am curious if they will include the motorcycle sales along with Mini as mentioned above.

The smaller cars is where they will hit these numbers. I can't see that many more US customers forking out an average of $50,000 for a BMW so it has to be the lower end of the price range.

[Diver]

Very ambitious. As for small car sales in the US, it's hard to say. The 1 series has not been a big seller here.

[Frosty]

its ALL growth in China

[Dackelone]

I really don't see how this is gonna happen. BMW ain't Volkswagen. And that is a good thing. Unless BMW comes out with more car lines... hence more car sales. This isn't gonna happen in just a few years. Look how long it took BMW to outsell MB in the states. .

What BMW should be doing is working on higher profit margin per car. And not worry about volume or being all things to all customers. There is a reason why we buy a BMW and not some "other" German made car.

VW's worries too much about volume and it shows. Unfinished cars heading to dealers with lots of problems - that the dealer can not fix properly. Only for teh customer to be left holding the bag.

[skiernan36]

BMW...the future GM

[ORIGIN M.]

Who says that?

You might need a vacation...

Originally Posted by skiernan36

BMW...the future GM

[kmarei]

"How does BMW plan to achieve these lofty sales figures?"

By selling out
By making bmws for people want to buy a BMW for the badge, nor for the ultimate driving machine
What's going on now reminds me of when Ferdinand pieche was in charge of VW
When the only thing they thought of was volume
So they ended up with crappily assembled cars made in Mexico, vs well built cars In Germany
Check out the reliability of the Mexican golf vs gti, and the Mexican made jetta

They have to remember the reason people pay a premium for a BMW, MB, or Audi. Is that they are rare
If everyone drives one, it's not a premium car anymore
This will be like the situation in the UK
Where the 3 series outsells the Ford Mondeo, and Honda Accord
So if you want exclusivity, you buy a non premium car

Small tip for BMW management
You can make money by selling more volume
Or by making more money per car
Just ask your friends in Stuttgart

[cmk227]

Agree. Make better cars with increase profit margin than increase volume and loss reliability.

[dmz]

Yeah, I don't like where BMW is heading. Being a volume car makers comes compromises. There is just no way around it. Look at what happened to Toyota. They were the cosidered the most reliable cars in the market and they set their goal to become the largest car maker in the world. They eventually got there and their had to cut corners and they reliability started to suffer and had to make tons of recalls. In the end, Totoya made nothing that would interest an auto enthusiast. They become just a makers of appliances. I sure hope BMW leaned from what happened to Toyota and avoid making the same mistakes.

[MikeyV]

I think you will find BMW in the US is heading to where BMW in Europe has been since the begining, BMW here is pretty much a mass market brand which covers most market segments from small MINI to ultra luxury Rolls Royce. It appears to only be people in the US who have a squewed idea of where BMW stands in the market.

[FlashTwoSix]

Originally Posted by kmarei

"How does BMW plan to achieve these lofty sales figures?"

By selling out
By making bmws for people want to buy a BMW for the badge, nor for the ultimate driving machine
What's going on now reminds me of when Ferdinand pieche was in charge of VW
When the only thing they thought of was volume
So they ended up with crappily assembled cars made in Mexico, vs well built cars In Germany
Check out the reliability of the Mexican golf vs gti, and the Mexican made jetta

They have to remember the reason people pay a premium for a BMW, MB, or Audi. Is that they are rare
If everyone drives one, it's not a premium car anymore
This will be like the situation in the UK
Where the 3 series outsells the Ford Mondeo, and Honda Accord
So if you want exclusivity, you buy a non premium car

Small tip for BMW management
You can make money by selling more volume
Or by making more money per car
Just ask your friends in Stuttgart

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by MikeyV

I think you will find BMW in the US is heading to where BMW in Europe has been since the begining, BMW here is pretty much a mass market brand which covers most market segments from small MINI to ultra luxury Rolls Royce. It appears to only be people in the US who have a squewed idea of where BMW stands in the market.

True.
Besides most of this growth, will find place in Russia, China, India and S.A imo.
There might be more BMW in the US, and EU that it is now, but not significant imo.
And it will be the I line, including a hole more choices as of excisting models, can't see how that is a bad thing imo.