RECORD GROWTH AND MORE TO COME The BMW Group achieved record sales in 2011 for all three brands – BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce – and the number-one premium car company automotive giant is forecasting a further increase in sales in 2012. Felicity Landon reports.
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MW is expecting to grow ahead of the total market this year, and it’s aiming for a balanced distribution of sales between the Americas, Asia and Europe. “With our sales momentum and our youngest ever product portfolio – only 2.3 years – we started 2012 with a solid foundation for strong growth,” says a corporate spokesperson. “We expect to grow faster than the total market, assuming that the total global automobile market will grow by 4 per cent in 2012.” Of course, this depends on there being no further deterioration in economic conditions,
he adds. “We expect to experience growth in virtually all regions of the world once again in 2012 and we expect growth trends in the emerging markets to continue in 2012. Above all, we aim for a balanced distribution of sales between the Americas, Asia and Europe.” Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management, has described 2011 as ‘the best year in the BMW Group’s corporate history’, with record sales volumes, revenues and earnings as the group exceeded its targets for the year. Group revenues rose 13.8 per cent to €68.82 billion, and pre-tax profits were up by
52.1 per cent to €7.38 billion. The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand cars delivered to customers increased by 14.2 per cent to a new record of 1,668,982.
Global growth in sales While sales of BMW vehicles are stable in Europe, there is significant growth in Asia, particularly China, and the Americas. Regarding purchase choices in these regions, BMW says: “Customers purchase high-end models like the BMW 7 Series, 6 Series and X5/X6 in China, which is our biggest market for BMW 5 and 7 Series sales. If you consider the rest Industry Europe 35
