BMW Group posts best-ever April sales

Munich, May 14, 2013: The BMW Group, with sales of 155,419 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles (April 2012: 155,419), in April 2013 has posted 6.8 percent growth in sales year on year. January to April 2013 deliveries rose 5.7 percent to a new all-time high of 603,619 vehicles (January-April 2012: 571,084).

“We have achieved our most successful April worldwide sales ever, despite the current weakness of some car markets in Europe. We reported a growth of 2.8 percent in Europe last month and made strong gains in Asia and the Americas. This momentum in worldwide sales will continue as we add new vehicles throughout the year to our very attractive product line-up, such as the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo”, said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing BMW, in Munich on Monday.

Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles climbed 7.5 percent to 130,598 (April 2012: 121,507). Demand for the X1 SUV remained strong with 11,837 vehicles delivered in April 2013, up 14.8 percent over the same month last year (10,310). The 3-Series saloon also reported strong gains with 38,491 vehicles sold, an increase of 16.0 percent compared to last year (33,192). The 3-Series Touring contributed to this growth, with 8,358 units delivered last month, an increase of 104.6 percent (April 2012: 4,085). The 5-Series sold 29,955 units last month (April 2012: 26,770/ +11.9%) while the 6-Series was delivered to 2,200 customers worldwide in April (April 2012: 1,559/ +41.1%). A total of 512,000 BMW vehicles (January-April 2012: 478,069) have been delivered to customers worldwide – an increase of 7.1 percent.

Mini: With 24,581 vehicles delivered in April, worldwide sales for the brand increased by 3.3 percent (April 2012: 23,794). Retail sales in key markets such as Great Britain/Ireland were up (3,393/ +43.6 percent), and China (2,038/ +7.0 percent). The new Mini Paceman has had a successful start with around 1,500 vehicles delivered to customers since its launch in mid-March. Year-to-date, Mini sales are around last year’s level with 90,737 units sold in the first four months (January-April 2012: 92,005/ -1.4 percent). On April 17, BMW India began local production of the Mini Countryman at its plant in Chennai, introduced as two diesel variants for the first time in India - Mini Cooper D Countryman and Mini Cooper D Countryman High.

BMW Motorrad: The BMw Group’s motorcycle brand saw sales increase in April by 11.5 percent to reach a total of 14,587 (April 2012: 13,088) vehicles. Year-to-date, 39,319 BMW motorcycles have been delivered, an increase of 5.0 percent (Janaury-April 2012: 37,461). On April 8, BMW Motorrad and TVS Motor Co of Chennai, India, signed a long-term cooperation agreement to join forces to develop and produce a new series of motorcycles that will cater to the segment below 500cc. The two companies will each offer their own vehicle derivatives, which will be sold through their own distribution channels in India and across the globe.