Press releases:
BMW Group sells more vehicles in March than ever before
- Best first quarter ever for BMW and MINI
- BMW 5 Series strengthens segment leadership
Munich. The BMW Group sold more vehicles in March than ever before in a month. The company sold a total of 165.842 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles in the past month, not only significantly exceeding the figure for March of last year (141,717 units / +17%) but also the previous sales high of 152,721 vehicles recorded in December 2007. The BMW and MINI brands also set new monthly records.
The company also achieved a new high for the first three months: Sales started the year stronger than ever – for the BMW Group, and the three brands. Retail volumes for the year to the end of March increased by more than 67,000 vehicles to 382,758 units (prev. yr. 315,630 units), which represents growth of 21.3% compared with the first quarter of 2010.
Broad regional growth across all continents and in virtually all countries contributed to this development. March sales rose in Europe (93,540 vehicles / +7.8%) and in Asia (35,048 vehicles / +52%), as well as in the Americas (32,020 vehicles / +18.6%).
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “2011 got off to an excellent start for the BMW Group with new sales records. This positive development is mainly thanks to our attractive model range and healthy auto markets in many parts of the world – in the established markets of Europe and the U.S., and in the emerging markets of South America and Asia. Sales volume of the year 2011 is expected to rise to well over 1.5 million units, a new all-time high, with the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands all achieving new sales volume records.”
BMW brand: BMW 5 Series doubles sales and strengthens segment leadership
With sales of 134,892 vehicles (prev. yr.: 117,706), more BMW brand vehicles were sold in a single month than ever before. Volumes climbed 14.6% from March 2010. Sales for the year to the end of March reached 321,175 vehicles (prev. yr. 265,819). This represents an increase of 20.8% over the first three months of last year.
The growth seen in March was driven partly by the brand’s large vehicles. The strongest sales growth within the model range was posted by the BMW 5 Series. The total of 30,954 5 Series sold is double the figure for March 2010 (+114.5%). Since sales commenced exactly a year ago, the company has sold more than 200,000 units. The new BMW 5 Series continues to be a highly successful model and is the clear leader in the upper midrange segment. The BMW 5 Series GT (2,272 vehicles / +15.9%) and the flagship BMW 7 Series (5,803 vehicles / +9.9%) also performed well on a global scale.
The German market also saw a strong increase in new registrations of upper-class vehicles and the BMW 5 Series and the BMW 7 Series lead their segments after the first quarter.
The BMW X1 and X3 also met with very strong demand on a global scale. The new BMW X3, available since late November 2010, was purchased by 9,315 new customers (+93.5%). The BMW X1 achieved a sales volume of 12,660 vehicles (+28.2%).
MINI brand: Countryman drives sales to record level
MINI also reported record figures. At 30,689 units (+28.5%), MINI sales easily exceeded the brand’s previous monthly best from 2008. A total of 60,860 vehicles were sold in the first quarter of 2011. This represents a sales increase of 22.9% compared with the first three months of last year.
The MINI Countryman, introduced last September, contributed to the brand’s positive performance so far this year. With 8,392 vehicles sold, the newest MINI version accounted for more than a quarter of MINI retail in March.
Rolls-Royce
The Rolls-Royce brand continued to grow dynamically in March. A total of 261 (prev. yr. 125 / +108.8%) automobiles were received by customers in the period under review. For the year to the end of March, the number of Rolls-Royce motor cars delivered thus climbed 159.1% to 723 (prev. yr. 279) vehicles.
Link:
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pres...lId=6&id=T0103554EN&left_menu_item=node__2201
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Mercedes-Benz posts double-digit growth in first quarter – Sales Increase of 12.7 percent
- “Our sales were very good in the first quarter. We also want to achieve year-on-year growth in the second quarter, for which we will particularly benefit from the new generation of the high-volume C-Class and the new SLK.”
- “Based on our success in many markets and numerous new products, we want to achieve a new sales record in 2011.”
- Mercedes-Benz records growth in all regions during first quarter - number one premium brand in Germany and the U.S.; once again sales record in China
- Sales of S-Class sedan rise by 24.8 percent, making it the market leader in its segment worldwide; C-Class sedan is number one in its segment, shortly before the facelift
- smart sales up by 9.8 percent - high growth rates in Germany and China
Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz substantially boosted sales in the first quarter, increasing deliveries by 12.7 percent to 280,552 units worldwide (Q1 2010: 248,958 units). Sales of the brand rose once again in March, increasing by 7.7 percent despite having already achieved a high sales level in the same month last year. Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 118,357 passenger vehicles in March (March 2010: 109,882 units).
Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our sales were very good in the first quarter and once again rose at a double-digit rate. We also want to achieve year-on-year growth in the second quarter, for which we will particularly benefit from the new generation of the high-volume C-Class and the new SLK.” The customer response to both new vehicles has been outstanding during the cars’ launch in Europe. The new C-Class coupe, which went on sale on March 26, has also met with a very good customer response. “Based on our success in many markets and numerous new products, we want to achieve a new sales record in 2011,” Schmidt added.
Mercedes-Benz was able to boost sales in all regions in the first quarter. The development was particularly dynamic in China (incl. Hong Kong), where sales rose to the record level of 42,990 units (Q1 2010: 24,127). This increase of 78.2 percent was the highest recorded by any premium brand in China. In March, demand in China increased by 80.4 percent to 15,242 units (March 2010: 8,450). Mercedes-Benz also set new quarterly records in the BRIC countries of Russia (plus 86.4 percent) and India (plus 37.0 percent), while sales were up by 41.6 percent in Brazil. High growth rates were also achieved in Taiwan (plus 74.5 percent), South Korea (plus 16.8 percent), and Australia (plus 16.9 percent).
Mercedes-Benz sales also continued to develop very well in the brand’s second-largest market, the U.S.. Last month, sales increased by 9.4 percent to 21,484 units (March 2010: 19,637). A total of 53,346 customers (Q1 2010: 49,229) opted to buy a Mercedes-Benz passenger car in the first quarter, representing an 8.4 percent increase on the same period last year. In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz was thus the highest-volume premium brand in March and during the first quarter. In the first three months of the year, Mercedes-Benz also achieved a new sales record in Canada, where 6,133 units were sold.
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz once again held its position as the leading premium brand month-to-date and year-to-date. At 49,318 units, sales in the first three months were roughly at the same level as last year (Q1 2010: 49,245). Sales in Western Europe (excluding Germany) totaled 73,261 units (Q1 2010: 70,472), up 4.0 percent on the same quarter last year. Sales particularly increased in the UK (plus 16.1 percent), Belgium (plus 24.2 percent), the Netherlands (plus 15.0 percent), and Sweden (plus 30.6 percent).
The ongoing success of the S-Class contributed substantially to the sales increase in the first quarter. Despite having to compete with partly much younger models from competitors, demand for the luxury sedan rose by 24.8 percent to 16,869 units. This has enabled the S-Class to remain the leading vehicle in its segment worldwide. The E-Class models also met with a great response, with sales in this segment rising by 15.1 percent to 78,570 units. Sales growth was particularly pronounced for the new E-Class convertible, deliveries of which rose fivefold. As a result, the E-Class convertible was the market leader worldwide in its competitive class. The new CLS is also very popular, with sales rising by 148.6 percent. Just before the launch of the new generation, the C-Class sedan and estate continued to gain customers, with the sedan becoming the best-selling vehicle in its comparative class and sales of the estate increasing by 43.8 percent. Since the start of the year, SUV sales reached a new record of 54,958 units (plus 33.2 percent). Contributing to this success were the high growth rates of the GLK (plus 41.4 percent), the M-Class (plus 21.2 percent), and the new generation of the R-Class (plus 81.0 percent). In the year of the launch of its successor, the B-Class continues to win over customers, with sales increasing by 32.4 percent compared to the same period in 2010.
Smart
Sales of the facelifted smart fortwo also rose during the first quarter, with customer deliveries totaling 24,981 units (Q1 2010: 22,753), which led to an increase of 9.8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010. In March, sales rose by 6.2 percent worldwide to 11,265 units (March 2010: 10,604). This was the highest monthly sales result since March 2009. The growth was mainly due to the high demand in China, where sales increased more than sixfold compared to last year. In March, the smart was once again very successful in Germany as well, boosting sales by 21.3 percent. In France, sales of the innovative two-seater rose by 23.7 percent.
Link:
Mercedes-Benz posts double-digit growth in first quarter ? Sales Increase of 12.7 percent | Daimler Global Media Site > Company > Business News
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Roughly 312,600 deliveries add up to Audi’s best first quarter
AUDI AG has ended the best first quarter in its history with strong results for March, with around 125,700 deliveries amounting to an increase of 13.9 percent. The company sold around 312,600 cars in the first three months, 18.4 percent more than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, growth rates in all regions were in a clear double-digit range. The new A6 Sedan is also expected to contribute to growth in the coming months. On April 1, roll-out of the new model started at dealerships, beginning in Germany and other European markets.
“The A6 is very successful in its segment. With the new generation we see even greater potential – especially in China and the United States, but in Germany as well,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “Over the life-cycle of the new A6 Sedan we want to exceed the total sales volume of its predecessor by around 25 percent.”
Sales figures for the new Audi A1 contributed to growth in the first quarter: in March alone, 13,880 customers chose the smallest model available from Audi. Since January, AUDI AG has sold nearly 31,000 units of the A1, which currently is available primarily in Europe. In all, the company sold around 186,500 cars in the European markets during the first three months of the year. This amounts to an increase of 14.8 percent compared to the same period 2010. During the past month Audi delivered some 79,900 cars within Europe, a rise of 11.4 percent. The growth was fueled by a strong first quarter in the company’s home market in Germany: With 56,283 cars, Audi sold 13.7 percent more than in the first quarter of last year.
And in the United Kingdom, where Audi traditionally is strongly represented, sales figures continued to climb over the first three months to 34,869 units, an increase of 13.7 percent.
First-quarter sales figures in the United States were up 19.1 percent with 25,383 cars; in March alone, 9,818 US-Americans bought a new Audi (up 14.3 percent from last year).
In China, Audi sold 64,122 cars between January and March, 24.6 percent more than during the same period 2010. In March, 23,000 Chinese customers chose a new car from Audi, a rise of 17.7 percent compared to March 2010. Audi recorded a significant 21.4 percent increase in the other Asia-Pacific markets as well during the first quarter and delivered some 15,800 cars in this region. Around 5,900 units were sold here in March alone, an increase of 21.3 percent.
Link:
Audi Worldwide > Company > News > Company
