In the first half of 2005, BMW Group sales increased 9.4% to 645,531 vehicles.
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In June, growth accelerated significantly compared with the same month last year: deliveries to customers increased 13.5% to 129,289 vehicles across the automaker’s three brands, setting a single-month record.
The first half of 2005 was also the most successful in group history.
The strongest retail growth was recorded in Western Europe in the first six months of the year. Here, deliveries of 390,233 vehicles rose 12.0%. In Asia, sales volume increased 4.5% to 50,071.
This figure includes Chinese markets where 3,042 cars were delivered in June; an increase of 32.4% compared with the same month last year (2,297). In the year to end June, 13,852 vehicles were sold in China; an increase of 3.2%.
In North America, group sales grew 1.3% to 155,571 cars. Michael Ganal, BMW group’s sales and marketing head, said: “The first half of the year was marked by the model change in our best-selling model, the 3 series sedan. Nevertheless, we also grew significantly during this period and continued to develop our position in the premium segment. As the new model is now available worldwide and our whole product range is successful, we are expecting this development to continue in the second half of the year.”
BMW (UK) June sales were 14% up and volume is up 6% up year to date. The growth came primarily from the new 1 series hatchback entry-level range. The recently updated Mini line of hatchbacks and convertibles posted a 21% increase in June and is 13% up overall year to date.
Managing Director Jim O’Donnell said: “Overall, I’m pleased with the company’s performance for the first half of the year but we are operating in an increasingly tough market. Our growth has come from the introduction of new models which has always been a part of BMW’s premium brand strategy.”
In the first half of the year, worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 8.6% to 538,132 units.
