Woodcliff Lake, NJ - July
1, 2005... The BMW Group (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported
year-to-date sales of 144,843 vehicles, a slight increase (0.8 percent)
compared to the 143,646 vehicles sold in the first half of 2004. The BMW
Group also reported June sales of 26,999 vehicles, a decrease of 3.3
percent from the 27,909 vehicles sold in the same month of 2004. BMW Brand
Reports Sales BMW of North America, LLC reported a 6.5 percent decrease in
June sales of automobiles and Sports Activity Vehicles, to 23,392 vehicles
compared to the 25,013 reported in the same month last year. Demand for
the all-new 2006 3 Series, which went on sale May 6th, is robust but
inventory remains low as the company builds production capacity of its
highest-volume model.
Year-to-date, sales of
BMW brand vehicles were down slightly (2.4 percent) from last year, for
sales of 122,864 vehicles compared to 125,834 vehicles sold in first six
months of 2004.
"This year is one of
transition for the BMW brand in the U.S., with 60 percent of its products
affected. In the past few months, we've introduced all-new 2006 3 Series
sedans, just voted "America's Best New Sedan" by readers of AutoWeek . The
planned changeover has gone extremely well, and we're delighted with the
strong customer demand for the new 3 Series, and the accolades from the
automotive press," explained Tom Purves, chairman and CEO of BMW in the
U.S.
"Later this year," he
continued, "BMW will introduce more 3 Series variants - a new sports wagon
and all-wheel-drive models."
The launch of the new 3
Series sedans is the highest-volume introduction, but other important new
models have been introduced this past spring - the 2006 5 Series sports
wagons and all-wheel-drive models. The new 2006 7 Series also went on sale
this past spring, with new engines and fresh design updates.
The new product
introductions will continue this fall, with the new 2006 M5 and the 2006
550i sedan, powered by a new V-8 engine.
"We are on track to end
the year with another record sales performance," Purves said.
BMW Automobile Sales
BMW's June automobile sales were 17,456 cars, a 1 percent dip versus
17,710 cars sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, sales were
down 7 percent, to 90,597 automobiles compared to 97,606 in the same
period a year ago.
BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Sales SAV sales were down 19 percent in June for 5,936 vehicles,
compared to 7,303 vehicles sold in the same month of 2004. Year-to-date,
sales of BMW's two SAV models are up 14 percent, to 32,267 vehicles
compared to 28,228 in the same period of 2004.
Certified Pre-owned BMW
also reported its strongest June ever for sales of Certified Pre-owned
BMWs. Monthly sales of Certified Pre-owned vehicles were 6,483, up 6
percent over the 6,110 vehicles sold in the same month last year.
Year-to-date, BMW CPO sales were up almost 2 percent, for 36,412 vehicles
over 35,855 in the same period a year ago.
MINI Brand MINI
Automobiles Strong demand for MINI brand automobiles continued in June.
MINI USA reported that June 2005 sales increased 25 percent, with 3,607
cars compared to 2,896 sold a year ago. Sales of MINI automobiles in the
first six months of 2005 are up 23 percent with sales of 21,979 cars over
the 17,812 cars reported in 2004.
