Global sales: July 2008 : BMW, MB, Audi


EnI

Piston Pioneer
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BMW:

BMW Group Automobiles: 125,812 (+2.2%) ... YTD 890,699 (+4.4%)
BMW: 106,483 (+2.2%) ... YTD 744,061 (+2.4%)
MINI: 19,227 (+2.1%) ... YTD 146,041 (+15.5%)
Rolls-Royce: 102 (+22.9%) ... YTD 597 (+58.4%)


BMW Group sales up 2.2% in July



  • All automobile brands report gains on previous year



Munich. The BMW Group increased its sales volume in July of this year. In total, 125,812 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand cars were delivered to customers. This represents an increase of 2.2% compared to the same month last year (123,089 units). For the period to the end of July, sales rose by 4.4% to reach 890,699 units (January - July 2007: 853,142 units).

Sales of the BMW brand grow 2.2% in July
Sales of BMW brand cars rose to 106,483 units (July 2007: 104,168 units / +2.2%) for the month under review. For the period to the end of July, 744,061 BMW vehicles were sold (January - July 2007: 726,355 units / +2.4%).

Once again the BMW 1 Series recorded the fastest growth rate in July, thanks mainly to the new BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible models. Sales for the month jumped by 40.3% to 20,654 units (July 2007: 14,724 units).

Further growth drivers were the BMW 3 Series Touring with 8,303 units sold (+9.3% / July 2007: 7,597 units) and the BMW 5 Series Touring with 4,088 units sold (+4.4% / July 2007: 3,917 units). The BMW 6 Series Coupé also recorded growth of 13.8% with a sales volume of 727 units (July 2007: 639 units).

The two Sports Activity models, the BMW X5 and the BMW X6, also enjoyed increasing popularity with customers. The BMW X5, which has been available since spring 2007, recorded 9,316 deliveries in July (July 2007: 8,994 / +3.6%). 2,615 units of the first Sports Activity Coupé, the new BMW X6, were sold. Since its market launch in April of this year the BMW Group has already delivered nearly 8,700 BMW X6 to customers around the world.

The new generation of the BMW 7 Series was presented at the end of June. From mid-November 2008 the BMW brand's new flagship will be available to customers in Europe, equipped with numerous technical innovations and, thanks to EfficientDynamics, new engines with even lower consumption and better performance. Offering average fuel consumption of just 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres (39.2 mpg imp), the new 730d will be the most economical car in its class. As to be expected towards the end of their product cycle, sales of current models are in decline. In July 2008 2,942 (July 2007: 3,327 / -11.6%)
BMW 7 Series cars were handed over to customers.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing: "We have increased our worldwide sales in July despite difficult business conditions. We intend to maintain our growth plan albeit we will continue to react to the world market situation on a month by month basis."

MINI brand reports 2.1% increase in July
The ongoing popularity of the MINI and the variety of models now available resulted in the July sales volume rising by 2.1% to 19,227 units (July 2007: 18,838 units). 146,041 vehicles were delivered during the period to the end of July (January - July 2007: 126,410 units / +15.5%).

70% of customers opted in July for a MINI Cooper or the top model, MINI Cooper S. For the diesel version, the Cooper D, and the MINI One, the percentages were 17% and 13% respectively. Compared with other small cars, the equipment provided and the product mix remains at an exceptionally high level. In a comparison of the three model versions, the classic MINI was first with 12,987 units (July 2007: 14,896 units/ -12.8%) or 68% of sales in July. It was followed in second place with 3,718 units - or 19% of sales - by the MINI Clubman, which has been available since November 2007. With 2,488 units sold (July 2007: 3,635 units), the MINI Convertible was the choice of 13% of customers.

Strong growth for the Rolls-Royce brand
In July Rolls-Royce Motor Cars handed over 102 Phantom (July 2007: 83 / +22.9%) to customers. The figure for the seven-month period was 597 (January - July 2007: 377 / +58.4%).




Mercedes - Benz:


MB Cars: 105,100 (+1.4%) ... YTD 773,200 (+7.2%)
MB: 92,700 (-1.1%) ... YTD 691,900 (+3.4%)
smart: 12,400 (+25.5%) ... YTD 81,300 (+56.7%)

Mercedes-Benz Cars Delivers 105,100 Vehicles to Customers Worldwide in July


  • Sales of Mercedes-Benz brand passenger vehicles increase by three percent since the beginning of the year, to 691,900 units
  • Sales of Mercedes-Benz USA rise by twelve percent to 20,700 units
  • Very positive customer response to updated models
  • New GLK impresses with an appealing design, extensive safety features, and hallmark Mercedes-Benz driving comfort

Stuttgart – Sales at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division continue to increase. Since the beginning of the year, sales of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach brand vehicles have risen by seven percent to 773,200 units (January – July 2007: 721,400 units). In July, the division increased deliveries by one percent to 105,100 vehicles (July 2007: 103,700). The Mercedes-Benz brand delivered a total of 92,700 vehicles to customers in July, compared to 93,800 units in the same month of 2007. For the year to date, sales of the Mercedes-Benz brand have increased by three percent to the record figure of 691,900 units (January – July 2007: 669,500 units).
Especially the recently updated models that were introduced in the second quarter are successful with the Mercedes-Benz customer: The SLK compact roadster, for example, is very popular, with about 20,000 units delivered to customers since the beginning of the year. The new SL roadster with its even sportier design has also met with a great response. Already 8,200 customers have chosen a model of the
SL-Class in the first seven month of this year.
The new CLC sports coupe meanwhile has already won about 3,000 customers since its market launch at the end of June. Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 36,300 C-Class segment vehicles in July, a 12-percent increase on the 32,500 sold in the same month last year.
“The initial test drives generated very positive media response to our new compact SUV,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “What really impresses people about the GLK are its striking design, extensive safety features, and hallmark Mercedes-Benz driving comfort – both on and off the road.” In Western Europe alone, Mercedes-Benz has already received a total of 10,000 orders for a GLK-Class vehicle by the end of July, only one month after the vehicle was released for sale. Deliveries of the GLK will start in October. The GLK-Class is expected in particular to create additional sales momentum starting at the end of the year.
In the U.S., sales of Mercedes-Benz brand passenger vehicles rose in July by 12 percent to 20,700 units (July 2007: 18,600 units). Mercedes-Benz is also continuing to post rising sales in the Asia/Pacific region. A total of 11,500 vehicles were sold there in July, a ten-percent increase on the 10,400 units sold in the same month last year. In China alone, 3,300 customers opted to buy a passenger vehicle from Mercedes-Benz, representing an increase of 69 percent from the 2,000 vehicles sold in July 2007. Mercedes-Benz increased sales in its home market of Germany by two percent delivering a total of 25,100 vehicles to customers (July 2007: 24,500).
[FONT=&quot]The smart fortwo once again posted record sales in July, when 12,400 customers chose the two-seater. Compared to the 9,800 units sold in July of last year, sales of the smart fortwo thus rose by 27 percent.[/FONT]





AUDI:



Audi: 83,200 (+2.5%) ... YTD 599,200 (+1.5%)


Audi AG: July Sees Continued Strong Sales Growth in Asia and Eastern Europe

Audi continues to show strong growth in the Asia/Pacific region with 12,037 automobiles sold in July, a 7.6 percent increase compared to the prior-year month (11,189). In China (including Hong Kong), 9,403 new automobiles were sold (up 7.1 percent).

Russia is also showing considerable growth with 1,454 customers, a 7.5 percent increase over last year (1,352). Audi posted growth of 10.6 percent in Eastern Europe with 3,466 more automobiles sold than the year before. And some 83,200 cars were handed over to their new owners worldwide, 2.5 percent more than July 2007.

“Asia and Eastern Europe are growth drivers in our business and we are going to keep our foot on the gas. We are therefore launching an independent sales company in Taiwan, just as we have already done in Canada, Australia and Korea,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales of AUDI AG.

Audi Taiwan Limited will commence operations in February 2009 and Audi is investing heavily in the sales and service network. Over the next few years, eleven new dealers will open in this growth market – three in the metropolis of Taipei alone.

Audi’s sales soared in the first seven months, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region, where the company sold 90,924 automobiles from January to July, an increase of 18.1 percent over the prior-year month (2007: 76,981). In China (including Hong Kong), the brand with the four rings continued to solidify and expand its leading market position for the same period by posting a 20.4 percent increase, with 69,912 vehicles sold. In Australia, Audi recorded a rise of 32 percent from January to July, with sales of 5,851 automobiles. An increase of 163 percent (595 automobiles) in India only confirmed the growth potential of this emerging market.

The Eastern European markets continued to show a positive trend over the first seven months, where Audi sales figures went up by 14.5 percent to 25,908 automobiles. In the largest market, Russia, Audi sold 10,114 cars during this same period (2007: 8,624), a rise of 17.3 percent.

Audi handed over 23,341 (2007: 22,908) cars to its customers in Germany, which represents growth of 1.9 percent. In the rest of Europe (excluding Germany), Audi sold 36,910 cars in July, a 3.3 percent increase over the prior-year month (2007:35,733).





****************************************************************

PS:


BMW officials confirmed 20-25k vehicles less would be produced in 2008 compared to the previous year production - mainly due lesser supply to US market!
While Daimler spokesman said Daimler AG would cut production by 45k units this year.
No further details were given (i.e. which models would be affected most).
 
Audi may have posted disappointing numbers hence the lack of a consolidated report
 
Audi may have posted disappointing numbers hence the lack of a consolidated report


Oh ...

I found the Audi figures: they are mentioned in one single sentence somewhere in the middle of the report. :t-crazy2: Check the highlighted part in the report. :usa7uh:

I calculated the YTD figures by myself (Jan-Jun 2008 sales + July 2008 sales vs. Jan-Jul 2008 sales).

:t-cheers:
 
I am a bit missed out. Why BMW started to sell more than Merc?, and, What makes them sell more than Merc actually? Which car?.

EnI, What is the perception of this in Germany, Does the people now consider BMW as the first german manufacter?.
 
I am a bit missed out. Why BMW started to sell more than Merc?, and, What makes them sell more than Merc actually? Which car?.

EnI, What is the perception of this in Germany, Does the people now consider BMW as the first german manufacter?.


In the last few years BMW are selling more than MB ... even on monthly basis. How else BMW brand could become a #1 selling premium brand in the world. :usa7uh:

Yet it can happen in some months MB sells more, BMW less (eg. when Mercedes introduces a new model, while BMW is about to introduce a facelift or new MK of some important models etc) ...

But as said: BMW have been selling more than MB. At least for few last years.

In Germany MB still sells more than BMW. But BMW have overtaken Audi in last few years - but I guess with Q5, Q3 & A1 Audi will again surpass BMW in the next years ... since BMW do not have a direct A1 competitor with the BMW badge; BMW Group offer MINI cars in this segment instead.



Jan - Jun 2008 reports (MB reports "family" sales figures only but no sales figures for particular model):

MB A- + B- class: 131,700 (-6.0%)
BMW 1-series: 117,000 (+66.5%) - huge increase due the launch of new 3dr hatch, coupe & cabro

MB C-class + CLK + SLK: 238,800 (+38.4%)
BMW 3-series + Z4: 267,742 (-??%) ... 3er: 256k (-11%), Z4: 11.7K (-24%)

MB E-class, CLS: 99,000 (-17.6%)
BMW 5er, 6er: 116,100 (-??%) ... 5er: 106,371 (-4.9%), 6er: 9,713 (-3.4%)

MB S + SL + CL + SLR + Maybach: 49,900 (-11.8%)
BMW 7-series + RR: 20,740 (???) ... 7er: 20,244 (-2.0%), RR 495 (+68.4%)

MB ML + GL + G + R-class: 79,800 (-7.7%)
BMW X3 + X5 + X6: 116,580 (???) ... X5: 63,350 (+30.5%), X6: 6,100 , X3: 47,150 (-18%)
 
Sales in the United States have fallen off the cliff for almost all German manufacturers in July. I think only Mercedes registered a small gain and everyone else fell on a month-on-month basis.

The most worrying thing is not the decline in sales, it is the precipitous decline of the most profitable high-end models that got the executives worried. Many manufacturers are bringing forward facelifts (Porsche 997 and the forthcoming S Class) and/or bringing forward new model releases (BMW 7 series). Manufacturers are even conspiring with magazines to come up with "spy scoops" to whet the appetite of buyers. The recent scoops of the Mercedes-AMG SLC, the Porsche Panamera and the Cayenne were rumoured to have been planted by the press offices of the two manufacturers.

Markets such as Russia, China, India, and the Middle East are mitigating some of the pain. But they cannot fill the void left by the United States and Europe.

Launching a new model in the face of a global economic slowdown is scary to say the least. Mercedes Benz launched the W140 S Class right in the middle of a global economic recession in the early 1990's and they had to stretch the car's lifecycle to make their money back. BMW will be launching the new 7 series under similar circumstances and Porsche will follow with the Panamera in the second half of 2009. I'd pray before I go to bed every night if I am Norbert Reithofer or Wendelin Wiedeking.

Mercedes Benz is in a slightly better position than either BMW or Porsche because they are going into this part of the economic cycle with a lot of momentum and they have the right model mix and technologies. The all-important S Class has already paid for itself and its coupe siblings are still relatively fresh compared to the competition. The C Class is still quite new and is going strong in all markets with the new CLK to follow soon. The new E Class will do well because it will have a 10 month head-start ahead of the next BMW 5 series. The hybrid drivetrains and new petrol and diesel engines will be big drawcards.

The worst fear for any manufacturers is to go into this global economic downturn with an ageing model line-up or brand new models that have not made its development costs back. A few bad or mediocre years would put your return of investment totally out of whack and will have some serious repercussions for the years to come.
 
Merc really needs the GLK to fly off the dealers..to compete with X Brigade...
 

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