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April 13, 2005
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This Week:

• 2005 Honda Odyssey Earns 'Best Pick' Rating in IIHS Frontal Crash Test

• Technologies Converge In GM's Cadillac STS SAE 100

• All-New Infiniti M Outperforming Sales Expectations

• Mercedes-Benz is the global leader for diesel models equipped with particulate filters as standard

• BMW Group Increases Sales In First Quarter By 8.2%

• Ford Motor Company Improves Its Russian Parts Service With New National Distribution Centre

• Chrysler Group Demonstrates Safety, Electronics and Powertrain Innovations at the 2005 SAE World Congress

• Porsche: Sports cars push sales in North America

• Lexus Unveiled Second Ground-Breaking Hybrid Luxury Vehicle at New York International Auto Show

• All-New Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sponsors Boston Marathon

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Germany and the USA were neck and neck in the first quarter, with 65,680 (previous year: 60,462/+8.6%) and 65,536 (previous year: 61,241/+7.0%) cars sold respectively. Examples of countries with well above average growth are Portugal with a rise of 43.9% to 1,973 units (previous year: 1,371), Russia at 44.4% (1,350/previous year: 935) and the African/Caribbean region with a rise of 22.6% (6,965/previous year: 5,680).

Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing, said: "All over the world, the BMW Group has developed far better in the first quarter than its relevant competitors. This means that we have further expanded our position in the premium segment. We achieved this improvement even though the BMW 3 Series is in the model changeover phase."

The BMW Group has also achieved a record volume on a monthly basis. March 2005 was the best-ever sales month for the BMW Group, with 127,093 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars sold. This is a rise of 7.9% over the same month last year (117,826).

The BMW brand increased sales in March by 7% to 104,909 vehicles (previous year: 98,037) - which is also a new high. The entire model range was responsible for this success.

Since the world launch of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan on March 5, 6,444 units have already been delivered. The BMW 3 Series is the world's best-selling premium automobile of its class. All the indications are that the new 3 Series Sedan will help to consolidate this position still further. The BMW Series is due to go on sale in the U.S. on May 7.

Record sales levels were also achieved for the MINI brand, both in the first quarter 2005 and monthly. In March, the 20,000 mark was passed for the first time in a single month, with 22,130 vehicles sold (previous year: 19,740/+12.1%). The convertible variant, with 5,389 units sold, accounts for about a quarter of the total sales volume. Comparing sales by country, the MINI home country - the United Kingdom - is still the undisputed leader, with 7,244 MINI cars sold in March, followed by the U.S. (4,127), Germany (2,755), Italy (2,004) and Japan (1,621).

Motorcycle segment increases by 10% in March

With 11,793 deliveries to customers, the motorcycles segment is 10% ahead in March (previous year: 10,720). For the period up to and including March, the growth rate is 18.8%, with 21,304 units sold (Q1 2004: 17,935). In the first quarter of 2005, the bestseller in the BMW motorcycle business remains the Enduro R 1200 GS with 6,772 units delivered. In terms of volume, this is followed by the sports bike K 1200 S with 2,230 vehicles sold, with the R 1200 RT tourer in third place (2,183).

(April 11, 2005)