BMW Group Sales Rise 10.3% In April

.May 12, 2004
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BMW Group Sales Rise 10.3% In April

Chinese markets show particularly dynamic growth

Munich - The BMW Group continued the upward trend in the sales of all its brands in April. Overall, the company increased the number of automobiles delivered to customers by 10.3%, in a monthly comparison, to 101,313 (previous year: 91,842). Up to the end of April, 371,170 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars were handed over to customers. This is an increase of 5.0% over the same period in 2003 (previous year: 353,429).

Asia continues to be characterized by above-average growth. Here, the number of automobiles delivered in the first four months of 2004 rose by 17.3%, to 29,777 (previous year: 25,387). The Chinese markets showed particularly dynamic growth. Here, sales were up by 41.4%, from 6,065 in the same period last year to 8,577 automobiles. This figure includes 3,877 BMW 3 and 5 Series models produced locally with the Chinese joint venture partner Brilliance. The plant in Shenyang will be officially opened with a special ceremony in a few days on May 20.

In Western Europe, sales rose by 4.2% to 221,895 automobiles. A particularly pleasing development: In Germany, a noticeable revival in incoming orders from both private and business customers indicates that sales are also set to develop positively in the next few months. In the period under review, the North American market records a rise of 1.8% to 93,285 cars sold (previous year: 91,677).

Sales of the BMW brand were increased worldwide by 9.9% in April to 85,220 automobiles (previous year: 77,513). Up to and including April, the increase in sales is 4.8% to 307,308 units (previous year: 293,289). The models launched in January - the BMW X3 and BMW 6 Series - have become major growth drivers in just a short time. For example, 16,843 of the BMW X3 have already been sold. Because of the high level of demand, capacity at the company's production partner Magna Steyr in Graz (Austria) has now been increased from 300 to 400 vehicles per day. In parallel with the successful start of the BMW X3, the BMW X5, increased once again by 1.4% - over what had already been a very high level last year (29,588) - to 29,990 units. The BMW 6 Series has already been delivered to 5,895 customers after a good three months in the market.

The MINI brand still shows sustained positive development almost three years after its market launch and two months before the introduction of the MINI Convertible in July this year. In April, 16,093 MINIs were sold, which is 12.3% more than in the same month last year (14,329). Over the first four months, the increase is 6.2% to 63,862 units (60,140). In a comparison between countries, the "MINI mother country" of Great Britain is first in sales, with 15,243 MINIs sold in the first four months of 2004, followed by the USA (11,561), Italy (9,318), Germany (8,580), France (4,517) and Japan (4,084).

Rolls-Royce delivered 67 Phantoms to customers in April and a total of 206 since the beginning of the year.

In April, the Motorcycles segment was unable to keep up to the level of the same month last year. Sales fell by 8.1% to 10,232 units (previous year: 11,132). Up to and including April, 28,176 motorcycles were delivered to customers, which is 12.0% fewer than in the same period last year.

(May 7, 2004)

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