[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Group global sales record best ever March and first quarter

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Munich, Germany – April 12, 2017... BMW Group sales achieved their best ever March, with sales in the month totalling 254,862, a 5.9% increase year-on-year. It was also a record first quarter with sales of the BMW Group’s three premium brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, increasing by 5.3%; a total of 587,237 vehicles have been delivered to customers around the world so far this year.

“We’ve achieved a strong start to the year, with our X-family models and the BMW 7 Series being the main growth drivers,” commented Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the BMW AG Board of Management with responsibility for Sales and Brand BMW. “March was the first full sales month for the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and the customer feedback for this benchmark car is already very positive,” he continued. “Our electrified models also continue to show extremely strong growth, with almost 20,000 sold in the first quarter, meaning we’re on track to achieve our target of 100,000 electrified vehicle sales this year. As we start the biggest model offensive the company has ever undertaken, I’m confident 2017 will be another record year for the BMW Group, retaining our leading position in the industry,” he added.

The BMW brand achieved its best-ever first quarter, cracking the half million mark for the first time this early in the year. Global BMW sales totalled 503,445 units, an increase of 5.2% on the same period last year. Sales of BMW brand vehicles in March totalled 212,093, an increase of 5.3% compared with the same month last year. Many models throughout the range contributed to this growth: in March, deliveries of the BMW X1 increased 21.0% (26,759), sales of the BMW X5 were up 20.7% (17,678) while deliveries of the flagship BMW 7 Series grew 74.8% (7,134). The BMW 5 Series, of which the new generation sedan had its first full month on sale in most markets, was delivered to around 35,000 customers worldwide.

With its broad offering of premium electrified vehicles, the popularity of the BMW Group’s innovative BMW i and BMW iPerformance models continues to grow rapidly. Since the beginning of the year, almost 20,000 electrified vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide, double the number sold by this time last year. First quarter production of electrified vehicles totalled more than 24,000 vehicles. Scandinavia continues to be a strong region for electrified vehicle sales. As of early April, over 10,000 BMW i3 vehicles have been delivered to customers in Norway since launch. March also saw the launch of the plug-in hybrid BMW 530e iPerformance in most markets. That model is expected to be a strong growth driver for electrified vehicle sales, as is the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid which will start delivery in June.

Sales of MINI brand vehicles achieved their best-ever March with a total of 42,447 delivered to customers around the world, an increase of 8.7% compared with the same month last year. March rounded off the brand’s record first quarter with sales totalling 83,059 (+6.1%). “MINI continues to demonstrate solid growth around the world,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the BMW AG Board of Management responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. “The MINI Clubman in particular has shown strong growth of over 21% in the first quarter, proving that its perfect blend of everyday usability and MINI-typical emotional characteristics is exactly what our customers want,” he continued. “With the new MINI Countryman we’ve just recently brought to market, I’m sure the momentum we’re seeing at MINI will continue through the year”, he added.

Following the second highest annual sales record in 2016, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sales in the first quarter of 2017 were up year-on-year. This was based on full market availability of Dawn compared with the same period last year. In total, 733 Rolls-Royce motor cars were delivered to customers across the globe (+33.0%). Demand for Rolls-Royce models remains strong in most regions, although this is set against ongoing market volatility in the global luxury industry as a whole. Rolls-Royce continues to strive for long-term sustainable growth.

March was also a positive month for BMW Motorrad with a total of 18,265 motor-cycles and maxi-scooters delivered to customers, an increase of 10.9% on the same month last year. In the year-to-date, sales total 35,636 units, an increase of 5.5%.

BMW & MINI sales in the regions/markets at a glance
All major sales regions achieved an increase in sales both in March and in the first quarter. Many markets achieved double-digit increases, including China and Mexico/Latin America. In the beginning of April the BMW Group handed over its 3 millionth vehicle to a customer in China.

[BMWZ4]

Good job bmw!

[ah3nyc]

Bring back multiple security deposit in USA!!!!

[doccyber]

Another reason to believe that BMW is appealing to the "masses" and not the enthusiast.

[deemo319]

Originally Posted by doccyber

Another reason to believe that BMW is appealing to the "masses" and not the enthusiasts.

Long term and sustainable growth would be very difficult to achieve with such a narrow product focus.

[Destroya]

Originally Posted by deemo319

Long term and sustainable growth would be very difficult to achieve with such a narrow product focus.

Agree, build cars for the masses and use the financial stability that brings to also build enthusiast cars.

[kozzi]

Originally Posted by Destroya

Agree, build cars for the masses and use the financial stability that brings to also build enthusiast cars.

This^

[BimmerMat135]

Meanwhile in North America: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2012/10...anada.html?m=1 So in 2016 bmw only sold 30000 units more than in 2007 despite having, 2 serie X1,X4,X6, i3, i8, GT which didn't exist in 2007. All these investments for 30000 units! Please BMW stop being the jack of all trade back in 2007 the 3 serie sold like hot cake because it was the best car in the segment period. Right now it is simply "not too bad".

[raysspl]

Any kind of business organization early on its years nearly always cater to enthusiasts of their product/service. As it grows, business objectives change a bit & in BMWs case (like most publicly traded companies), caters to the public/masses.

[conradb]

Originally Posted by Destroya

Agree, build cars for the masses and use the financial stability that brings to also build enthusiast cars.

Which they aren't doing. They're a public company seeking to satisfy investors, not you. They don't give a fuck about you.

Don't know if you've seen the M4 GTS lol

[SCOTT26]

35,000 new generation 5er Sedan sold in just over a Month from the car's sale date in February and a strong European order book for the new 5er Touring which goes on sale in June. And the introduction of a new 5er Li for China this week including an immediate launch of a 530e L.
All this and more and the new X3 which will launch in June and arrive in the US before the end of the year.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by deemo319

Long term and sustainable growth would be very difficult to achieve with such a narrow product focus.

Exactly

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

Meanwhile in North America: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2012/10...anada.html?m=1 So in 2016 bmw only sold 30000 units more than in 2007 despite having, 2 serie X1,X4,X6, i3, i8, GT which didn't exist in 2007. All these investments for 30000 units! Please BMW stop being the jack of all trade back in 2007 the 3 serie sold like hot cake because it was the best car in the segment period. Right now it is simply "not too bad".

Can't use Canada in any comparison. Market is way too small. Could be a number of factors why only 30k units sold more since 2007. Markets that count: US, China, all or parts of Europe....Canada ain't one of them.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by conradb

Which they aren't doing. They're a public company seeking to satisfy investors, not you. They don't give a fuck about you.

Don't know if you've seen the M4 GTS lol

Yes, they're a public company. It's their job to make money for their investors. It's supposed to work that way.

If they don't give a frack about you, curious why you bought one....

Is there a manufacturer out there that you believe is doing EXACTLY the right thing with respect to building an "enthusiat's" car?

[conradb]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Yes, they're a public company. It's their job to make money for their investors. It's supposed to work that way.

If they don't give a frack about you, curious why you bought one....

Is there a manufacturer out there that you believe is doing EXACTLY the right thing with respect to building an "enthusiat's" car?

Who buys a product with the idea that the company behind it cares about them?

Americans: Viper ACR, Corvette Grand Sport, Mustang GT350, Camaro ZL1 / Z/28, Cadillac CTS-V/ATS-V...

That's why I own a track prepped Z06 Vette now.

[Matski]

UK out sold US and Germany...

Bet that doesn't happen very often!

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by conradb

Who buys a product with the idea that the company behind it cares about them?

Americans: Viper ACR, Corvette Grand Sport, Mustang GT350, Camaro ZL1 / Z/28, Cadillac CTS-V/ATS-V...

That's why I own a track prepped Z06 Vette now.

I can think of a few operations around the world that care about their impact on the customer.

As for the vehicles you mention, can't speak to any of those you've listed, mostly because I'm not the target audience for those vehicles but they would never be on my radar. I'd buy a MB or a Tesla before I considered one of those mentioned.

[doccyber]

Originally Posted by deemo319

Long term and sustainable growth would be very difficult to achieve with such a narrow product focus.

Don't agree at all. A narrower focus with better developed products is what they should focus on. The GT models along with X1 and X4 and X6 should be discontinued immediately. Get rid of the 4 series and go back to calling it a 3 series coupe. Keep the 2 , 5 and 6 series and get rid of 7 as anybody in the high end luxury sedan market would go for the S class over the 7. Keep the Z4 and offer only an M2, M3, M5 and M6. No X something M. Make BMW great again.

[doccyber]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

Meanwhile in North America: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2012/10...anada.html?m=1 So in 2016 bmw only sold 30000 units more than in 2007 despite having, 2 serie X1,X4,X6, i3, i8, GT which didn't exist in 2007. All these investments for 30000 units! Please BMW stop being the jack of all trade back in 2007 the 3 serie sold like hot cake because it was the best car in the segment period. Right now it is simply "not too bad".

Agree 100%. Simplify the line up.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by doccyber

Don't agree at all. A narrower focus with better developed products is what they should focus on. The GT models along with X1 and X4 and X6 should be discontinued immediately. Get rid of the 4 series and go back to calling it a 3 series coupe. Keep the 2 , 5 and 6 series and get rid of 7 as anybody in the high end luxury sedan market would go for the S class over the 7. Keep the Z4 and offer only an M2, M3, M5 and M6. No X something M. Make BMW great again.

Genius.. a minimum 40% drop in sales, removal of products in all growth areas.. and deal a massive blow to Group profitability... yeah, that's going to result in BMW making better cars for sure ... totally ...

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Yes, they're a public company. It's their job to make money for their investors. It's supposed to work that way.

Except they're not. BMW stock peaked over 2 years ago in March of 2015. It's currently sitting down ~33% from then and has been down as much as 47%. It's in a long term downtrend until price action proves otherwise (i.e. breaking out above €98 and closing a downside gap opened a year ago).

In the meantime the DAX has rallied all the way back to the all-time high, within 1-2%, it reached coincident with BMW stock in March of 2015. So BMW stock is vastly under-performing the market even though all this "great news" is supposedly fantastic for shareholders. Note that during this time with the ECB monetizing debt to the tune of €80 billion/month, the ECB has also monetized some of BMW's debt like other EU corporations. Hence BMW has had a huge buyer at hand to helping lower their borrowing costs -- can't ask for more than that. Given all of that summed up, you'd think the stock wouldn't be down 33% with the Dax back at all-time high levels but instead much higher if the market actually believed the BMW long term plan yet.

That under-performance itself is a significant signal. Stay short until price tells you otherwise is what professional investors are doing with BMW stock. It's been a good ride down so far at least; perhaps it will be over soon, but nobody on earth actually knows.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

Except they're not. BMW stock peaked over 2 years ago in March of 2015. It's currently sitting down ~33% from then and has been down as much as 47%. It's in a long term downtrend until price action proves otherwise (i.e. breaking out above €98 and closing a downside gap opened a year ago).

In the meantime the DAX has rallied all the way back to the all-time high, within 1-2%, it reached coincident with BMW stock in March of 2015. So BMW stock is vastly under-performing the market even though all this "great news" is supposedly fantastic for shareholders. Note that during this time with the ECB monetizing debt to the tune of €80 billion/month, the ECB has also monetized some of BMW's debt like other EU corporations. Hence BMW has had a huge buyer at hand to helping lower their borrowing costs -- can't ask for more than that. Given all of that summed up, you'd think the stock wouldn't be down 33% with the Dax back at all-time high levels but instead much higher if the market actually believed the BMW long term plan yet.

That under-performance itself is a significant signal. Stay short until price tells you otherwise is what professional investors are doing with BMW stock. It's been a good ride down so far at least; perhaps it will be over soon, but nobody on earth actually knows.

I didn't say their current financial performance was stellar. I said it's their job to be profitable for their investors. In any case, focusing only on "enthusiast" type vehicles will not make them more successful, for either the customer or their investors. Is there room for improvement? Probably, but again, what car manufacturer today is working to build vehicles that will satisfy the enthusiast (niche?) market? I haven't done any research, but likely none. They wouldn't be in business very long, IMO. You need breadth of product, again my opinion. Developing & manufacturing half a dozen "lines" might satisfy the few, but you won't last long.