BMW unveiled an 18% increase in UK car sales last month, to 5,890.

The figures, which account for 3% of the UK car market according to a BMW spokesman, came as a welcome relief to the German automaker as it posted a 39% drop to 3,438 last month, due in part to the Rover issue.

In addition to this UK increase, BMW also announced a 17% increase in worldwide sales in May, to 75,000, while the first five months of the year saw a 10% rise in global sales, to 345,000.