BMW Group delivers 177,741 vehicles worldwide, increase of 6.8 per cent

Deliveries of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles increased 6.8 per cent to total 177,741 in the last month, making it the best May ever (previous year 166,381). A new sales record was also reached in the year-to-date with a total of 826,865 vehicles delivered
in the first five months of the year (previous year 770,012/ +7.4 per cent).

"The BMW Group continued to achieve record sales in May, keeping us well on track to sell over two million vehicles in 2014," said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW. "Customer demand in the USA is showing solid growth, as is the Americas region as a whole, whilst Asia continues to be strong. Sales this year in Europe are also showing some signs of recovery."

Sales of BMW brand vehicles rose 10 per cent in May with a total of 153,023 vehicles being delivered to customers (previous year 139,142). Sales for the year-to-date climbed 10.9 per cent to 722,129 (previous year 651,152).

The new BMW 2-series continued its strong start with sales-to-date reaching 7,842. Sales of the BMW 3-series show continued growth with a total of 193,866 sold in the year-to-date (previous year 189,830/+2.1 per cent).

The BMW 4-series reached a total of 35,253 units delivered in the first five months of the year. Customer demand for the BMW 5-series, which continues to lead its segment worldwide, jumped 10.6 per cent in May (33,213/previous year 30,027) with sales so far this year up 5.5 per cent to total 155,733 (previous year 147,551). The BMW 6-series also recorded a solid rise in sales in the year-to-date with 11,812 vehicles delivered to customers (previous year 10,765/+9.7 per cent).

Customer demand for the BMW X models continues to show solid growth. Sales of the BMW X1 increased by 4.9 per cent in the first five months of the year with 67,391 units sold (previous year 64,235), whilst the BMW X3 saw a 10.5 per cent increase in demand (69,115/previous year 62,545). The BMW X5 continues to be very popular with customers. Sales of the third generation of the X5, which has been on the market since November 2013, climbed 62.5 per cent in May, with a total of 12,382 units delivered to customers (previous year 7,619), bringing the year-to-date sales to a total of 55,136 (previous year 43,002/+28.2 per cent).

Sales of the BMW i3 continue to be positive with a total of 4,154 delivered in the first five months of 2014.

In May, 24,373 Minis were delivered to customers (previous year 26,958/-9.6 per cent). Year-to-date sales decreased 12.4 per cent with a total of 103,158 units delivered (previous year 117,697). This decrease in sales is in line with expectations and is due to the recent model change in the core Mini Hatch model. Customer interest in the new Mini is strong and this is expected to be reflected in the retail figures from summer onwards.

Continuing its strategy of balanced sales growth worldwide, the BMW Group increased sales in all three major sales regions in the first five months of 2014.

Asia saw deliveries of BMW and Mini models increase by 19.7 per cent to 264,094 vehicles (previous year 220,576) in the year-to-date. In mainland China, sales rose 24.6 per cent to 184,823 (previous year 148,319). Sales continue to show double-digit growth in South Korea, where 18,221 vehicles were delivered in the first five months of the year (previous year 15,330/+18.9 per cent). In the year-to-date, Japan saw growth of 7.2 per cent (25,210/previous year 23,517).

A total of 178,126 BMW and Mini vehicles were delivered to customers in the Americas in the year-to-date (previous year 171,636/+3.8 per cent). In the USA, sales in the first five months of 2014 rose 4.9 per cent, with a total of 145,957 vehicles delivered to customers (previous year 139,142). In Brazil, 6,979 vehicles were delivered to customers (previous year 6,013/+16.1 per cent) and sales in Mexico rose 6.7 per cent to 5,620 (previous year 5,269).

The gradual recovery of the European market continues with a total of 358,949 BMW and Mini models delivered in the first five months of the year (previous year 351,997/+2 per cent). Scandinavia continues to show significant growth in the year-to-date, climbing 16.9 per cent to 17,816 vehicles (previous year 15,235). Double-digit growth was also recorded in Spain, where sales to the end of May rose 11.8 per cent with a total of 16,679 vehicles delivered to customers (previous year 14,917).

BMW Motorrad's stable growth continues for a fifth consecutive month. In May, 14,088 motorcyles and maxi-scooters were delivered to customers (previous year 13,081/+7.7 per cent), making it BMW Motorrad's best May ever. In the first five months of the year, sales grew 12.9 per cent, totalling 59,151 (previous year 52,400).

Posted in: 4-series,BMW,BMW 3-series,BMW Motorrad,BMW X1,Global Sales,Ian Robertson,May,Mini,Rolls-Royce,Sale Report