BMW Group achieved record sales in the UK 2005 with over 156,000 BMW and Mini brand registrations, an increase of 9% compared to 2004 in a total market down 5%.
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The BMW brand accounted for 111,639 registrations, up 9%, while Mini recorded 44,757 registrations, its best annual sales performance since the vehicle’s UK launch in July 2001 and 3% higher than in 2004.
Maintaining steady year on year growth almost five years after launch is a particularly impressive achievement for BMW’s Mini line which was first launched here in the UK in mid-2001 and has remained largely unchanged since then.
BMW has maintained buyer interest in the Mini line with regular updates; diesel and cabriolet models have also been added, and, for the 2005 model year, the range was given a minor ‘mid-life facelift. A ‘limited edition’ model line was also available during 2005.
Combined, the BMW and Mini brands accounted for 6.42% of the total UK market in 2005 (BMW 4.58% and Mini 1.84%).
The 5 Series saloon and Touring (wagon) performed particularly strongly, posting a 9% increase on the previous year’s sales total of 16,678 to reach 18,140 units in 2005, a year in which Audi launched an impressive redesign of its rival A6 series.
The large 7 series, in its third model year, also posted a 40% increase over 2004 with 2,017 vehicles registered.
Registrations of the popular X5 SUV – in its sixth and final full year before a full redesign – rose 28% to a record 10,804 units.
2005 was the first full sales year for the Mini convertible range in the UK.
BMW claims the Mini drop-top is the best-selling soft top in the UK (the Peugeot 205 coupe-cabriolet with folding steel roof is actually the segment leader) and its registrations accounted for 23% of the brand’s total 2005 registrations. The Cooper remained the most popular model in the Mini range in 2005, a year in which a record 200,000 units were manufactured at the Oxford plant.
BMW said that a so-called ‘Mini UK production triangle’ is being established between Oxford, which makes only Minis, the BMW Hams Hall engine plant near Coleshill (Birmingham) (four-cylinder petrol engines for BMWs and the next-generation Mini) and the group pressings plant at Swindon (the one time Pressed Steel/Rover Group facility) in preparation for future model variants such as the Traveller (wagon) shown in concept form at the Frankfurt and Tokyo motor shows last year.
BMW (UK) managing director Jim O’Donnell noted: “2005 was an extremely competitive year but BMW and Mini have yet again achieved record sales. Our product offensive will not stop in 2006 and will help us to consolidate our position as the leading manufacturer of premium vehicles.”
Rolls-Royce spokesman Andrew Boyle said that world-wide 2005 sales figures for all BMW brands, including Rolls-Royce, would be announced at the Detroit motor show on Monday.
Graeme Roberts
