BMW group vehicle sales worldwide fell 12.6% to 109,923 units, the automaker said on Friday.
“The decrease in sales volumes was again slightly lower than in previous months,” BMW added. Year to date volume was down 18.6% to 725,377 cars.
MINI recorded a tiny increase in sales (0.3%) for the first time since September 2008, with a July tally of 19,281. BMW brand deliveries declined 14.9% to 106,466 cars though sales of the recently redesigned 7 series rose 57.9% to 4,631.
“Over the coming months the launch of a number of new models will give sales a further boost,” the automaker said.
These will include a four wheel drive 7, the X1 baby SUV and the 5 Series Gran Turismo liftback, all taking BMW into new market segments. M versions of the X5 and X6 SUVs are about to be launched this summer.
Year to date BMW volume was down 18.8% to 604,190.
Rolls Royce sales fell 55.9% to 45 units last month and were down 37.4% to 374 year to date.
Group sales in China rose 38.9% to 7,623 in July, India volume rose 30.5% to 261 and Brazilian deliveries soared 168.6% to 607 vehicles reflecting the recent launch of Mini there. There were also gains in France (5.0%), Switzerland (4.1%), Austria (7.8%), Canada (7.6%), Australia (17.3%), Middle East (1.4%) and South Korea (27.1%).
July’s motorcycle sales fell 10.1% to 9,604.
BMW sales and marketing head Ian Robertson said: “Our sales performance again improved slightly in July and Mini was even back on its growth path.
“Over the course of the next months we will see group sales continue their gradual upward trend – not least as a result of several new models.
“I am confident we will continue to expand our market position in the premium segment for 2009 as a whole and be able to maintain our position as leading premium manufacturer.”
