BMW Motorrad posts record half-year sales

BMW Motorrad has closed the first half-year with a new sales record for the fourth time in succession. 80,754 motorcycles and maxi scooters were supplied to customers worldwide as of end-June 2016 (January-June 2015: 78,418 units).

As compared to the equivalent period of the previous year, this represents an increase of 3.0%. For the first time ever, BMW Motorrad was able to sell more than 80,000 vehicles in the first six-month period of a year. With 14,993 (previous year: 15,490 units), sales in the month of June were just under the record result of June 2015 (-3.2 %).

Heiner Faust, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing: “As of June 2016 we were able to set our fourth six-month record in succession, at the same time supplying more than 80,000 motorcycles and maxi scooters to our customers by the middle of a year. Based on this positive development we will now strive to achieve another sales record for the year as a whole.”

R1200 GS remains best-seller

The strongest growth stimuli are mainly coming from the major European motorcycle markets of Spain (+22.6 %), Italy (+6.9 %) and France (+5.6 %). The smaller markets of South Eastern Europe also saw growth. The Chinese market, in particular, is continuing to show considerable growth potential for BMW Motorrad with a dynamic increase in sales. As compared to the equivalent period of the previous year, sales increased by 74.3 % to 2,388 units. Sales in Thailand (+62.6 %) and Japan (+10.4 %) were also well above the previous year.

Germany, which saw 13,792 unit sales (+2.0%), remains the traditionally largest market for BMW Motorrad. In the relevant segment over 500cc capacity, BMW Motorrad also leads the market in Spain, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, Brazil and South Africa.

The world's most popular travel enduro, the R 1200 GS, remains unrivalled as the top-selling BMW Motorrad model. Now in its fourth year of sales, supplies increased as compared to the previous year by 3.8% to 13,792 vehicles. Demand for its sibling, the R 1200 GS Adventure, also rose in its third year of sales to 11,732 (+12.5 %) units. 44.5 % of all boxer GS motorcycles were ordered in the Adventure variant this year.

The Adventure model S 1000 XR (5,480 units) and the supersports bike S 1000 RR (5,291 units) have recently moved up into third and fourth position – both of them powered by high-performance  4-cylinder BMW engines

The touring classic R 1200 RT (5.123 units) follows in fifth place, followed by the custom bike R nineT (4.629 units).

Demand for the C 650 maxi scooter is also well above the previous year. As of June, 5,259 units (+73.2 %) were sold of the new edition of the two premium scooters. In addition to this, 447 BMW C evolution electric scooters were supplied in the same period (+1.4 %).

Growth outlook

In the second half of the year, BMW Motorrad expects demand for current products to continue. It also foresees additional sales from the second model of the BMW ‘Heritage’ world of experience, the new R nineT Scrambler (market launch from September 2016), the new G 310 R (market launch from October 2016) and attractive model facelifts in the boxer and F series.

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