BMW Group posts 5.7% growth in 2014, sells over 2m units for the first time

The BMW Group has announced its 2014 sales and financial results, pointing to its fifth record year in succession.

"We continued to perform well during the past year, achieving new highs for sales volume, revenues and group earnings," said Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, today in Munich. "Tailwinds caused by high customer demand for our vehicles worldwide are driving up sales volumes. Our Strategy Number ONE, which we regularly refine as we go forward, continues to contribute to our business performance," he added.

Group revenues grew by 5.7 percent in 2014 to 80,401 million euros / Rs 614,585 crore (2013: 76,059 million euros). Profit before financial result (EBIT) rose by 14.3 percent to 9,118 million euros / Rs 69,697 crore (2013: 7,978 million euros), thanks primarily to sales volume growth and a high-value model mix. Group profit before tax (EBT) increased by 10.3 percent to a new high level of 8,707 million euros / Rs 66,556 crore (2013: 7,893 million euros). Net profit improved by 9.2 percent to 5,817 million  euros / Rs 44,465 crore (2013: 5,329 million euros), also a new record high for the BMW Group. 

Sales volumes surpassed the two-million mark for the first time in the BMW Group’s history, climbing by 7.9 percent to a total of 2,117,965 units (2013: 1,963,798 units).

The BMW brand registered new record sales of 1,811,719 units, up 9.5 percent (2013: 1,655,138 units),driven in particular by the 3, 4 and 5 Series and the X5. While the 2 Series sold a total of 41,038 units in 2014, the 3 Series remained at a high level in 2014 with 480,214 units sold (2013: 500,332 units). The  4 Series posted a sales volume of 119,580 units (2013: 14,763 units) and the 5 Series saw its sales rise to 373,053 units (2013: 366,992 units; +1.7%). Sales of the popular X5 climbed steeply (by 37.4%) to 147,381 units (2013: 107,231 units).

BMW i vehicles recorded total sales of 17,793 units last year. Worldwide sales of the i3 totalled 16,052 units, following the model’s launch in various major markets, including the USA. The  i8 saw sales of 1,741 units since its market launch in summer 2014.

With a sales volume of 302,183 units, the Mini brand maintained sales at the previous year's level (2013: 305,030 units; -0.9%). Sales of the Mini Hatch saw a 9.0 percent increase in sales on the previous year at 140,051 units (2013: 128,498 units). The number of Mini Countrymans sold increased year-on-year by 5 percent to 106,995 units (2013: 101,897 units).

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars consolidated its position as market leader in the ultra-luxury segment in 2014, surpassing the 4,000-unit sales volume threshold for the first time. Overall, the number of vehicles sold during the year rose by 11.9 percent to 4,063 units (2013: 3,630 units), including 1,906 units (2013: 492 units) of the Wraith, launched in late 2013.

In line with its strategy of achieving a balanced distribution of worldwide sales, the BMW Group recorded sales volume growth in all major sales regions. The four largest sales markets for the BMW Group over the past year were China, the USA, Germany and Great Britain.

Sharp increase in earnings for BMW Motorrad
The Group’s motorcycles segment revenues grew 11.6 percent year-on year to 1,679 million euros (2013: 1,504 million euros).EBIT jumped by 41.8 percent to 112 million euros (2013: 79 million euros), while profit before tax advanced by 40.8 percent to 107 million  euros (2013: 76 million euros). Sales volume increased by 7.2 percent to 123,495 units (2013: 115,215 units). BMW Motorrad's five largest markets were Germany, the USA, France, Italy and Brazil.