Global Sales: March & Q1 2010

[Merc1]

If Audi ever catches on to BMW/MB like volume in the U.S. they'll be #1 for a long while.


M

 

[braaf]

so once the A1 hits the streets, they will be number 1 with ease.

However as a Audi fan im personally not 100% happy with the direction of the company as of late. Im worried they are expanding too quickly, getting too big for their shoes etc

Not really. Audi only has the A1 hitting the market now. BMW have the new 5er as well as the X3 which could count in their favour.

As far as getting too big for their shoes are concerned, it's a business. Eg.I'm not in favour of VAG parts sharing simply cos I wouldn't want my car to labelled a glorified VW, but if it makes economical sense then hell yeah I'll buy it. And this is what Audi have in their favour right now, and this is why they're selling so many cars. Ask yourself the question as a neutral with no preference to any brand. A 320 which is more expensive than a A4 1.8t and less powerful and the options add up to more or less the same as the A4. You get my point. Well done Audi.

BMW Group Automobiles 141,701 +12.1% 315,614 +13.8%
BMW 117,696 +12.7% 265,809 +13.8%
MINI 23,880 +9.1% 49,526 +13.6%
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars 125 +78.6% 279 +60.3%
BMW Motorcycles 11,541 +26.8% 20,840 +20.9%

[Source BMW]

These numbers are not to be laughed at. Bearing in mind of the new models coming through as well as the facelifts I think BMW are in for a good second quarter.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

If Audi ever catches on to BMW/MB like volume in the U.S. they'll be #1 for a long while.


M

Very true.. they are growing very steadily in the US market, even though they still lag BMW and MB by quite a margin in terms of sale.

Conversely, if BMW and MB ever catch up to Audi in the Chinese market, then that will ensure Audi don't run away as global sales leaders.

Audi really has closed the gap quite rapidly, but when it comes to sales in the automotive industry, there is definitely an ebb-and-flow trend depending on what models were recently launched and which are soon to be launched. The A1 will be volume seller no doubt, but what else does Audi have on the horizon? The A7 won't contribute a great deal to sales...and that's about it.
BMW on the other hand have the new 5er which will be a strong seller for at least the next year or two.. the X3 was a strong seller during its first generation, so the same can be expected with the new model. 6er won't do much..but also, the X1 hasn't hit all markets yet..especially the SUV/4WD friendly US market...so expect that to be popular here.

Even with the new E..MB truly have lost the title as number one in sales. When BMW overtook them not so long ago, there was an argument that it was simply because of the timing of product launches that had boosted BMW sales...but it's clear now that MB has fallen off the pace for good.


Any numbers released for Toyota Motor Corp' -vs- VW Auto Group global sales for Q1 2010 ?

 

[braaf]

Very true.. they are growing very steadily in the US market, even though they still lag BMW and MB by quite a margin in terms of sale.

Conversely, if BMW and MB ever catch up to Audi in the Chinese market, then that will ensure Audi don't run away as global sales leaders.

Audi really has closed the gap quite rapidly, but when it comes to sales in the automotive industry, there is definitely an ebb-and-flow trend depending on what models were recently launched and which are soon to be launched. The A1 will be volume seller no doubt, but what else does Audi have on the horizon? The A7 won't contribute a great deal to sales...and that's about it.
BMW on the other hand have the new 5er which will be a strong seller for at least the next year or two.. the X3 was a strong seller during its first generation, so the same can be expected with the new model. 6er won't do much..but also, the X1 hasn't hit all markets yet..especially the SUV/4WD friendly US market...so expect that to be popular here.

Even with the new E..MB truly have lost the title as number one in sales. When BMW overtook them not so long ago, there was an argument that it was simply because of the timing of product launches that had boosted BMW sales...but it's clear now that MB has fallen off the pace for good.


Any numbers released for Toyota Motor Corp' -vs- VW Auto Group global sales for Q1 2010 ?

Although, so much can happen in a short space of time. MB could rocket back to top in a few years. You never know.

 

[gdm]

Audi's rapid increase are mostly depended on Chinese market,Audi sales about 15000 A6L+A4L per month in china,BMW sales about 4000 5er+3er per month,Mercedes sales 2000 E+C-class per month,that's a huge difference.

 

[Merc1]

Personally I'm good with Mercedes-Benz not winning the sales race long as they're profitable and build higher quality cars. Considering Mercedes prices and the way they're sales are skewed towards the top of their lineup they shouldn't have ever won a sales race to begin with IMO. BMW and Lexus draw a larger percentage of their sales from their entry-level models than Mercedes does. All of this is the U.S. I'm speaking about.


M

 

[RikfromBelgium]

Kudos to Audi, not there yet though, They might jump over BMW for a month again, but once that new 5 series kicks in, with all the proper diesel engines, BMW will take its nr 1 spot again, more comfortably

 

[Poverty]

Personally I'm good with Mercedes-Benz not winning the sales race long as they're profitable and build higher quality cars. Considering Mercedes prices and the way they're sales are skewed towards the top of their lineup they shouldn't have ever won a sales race to begin with IMO. BMW and Lexus draw a larger percentage of their sales from their entry-level models than Mercedes does. All of this is the U.S. I'm speaking about.


M

having recently visted the mercedes dealers I would have to agree 100% percent

 

[Poverty]

Kudos to Audi, not there yet though, They might jump over BMW for a month again, but once that new 5 series kicks in, with all the proper diesel engines, BMW will take its nr 1 spot again, more comfortably

will the new 5er sell more than the new A1? Personally I dont think so. I think the a1 will be littered everywhere and become a run away sucess.

Even though audi does all the platform sharing though, their car prices are getting stupid. 18 thousand pounds for a 1.2 audi a1.... who in their right mind would pay that?

 

[RikfromBelgium]

I'm not that shure the A1 will be an instant succes

 

[braaf]

will the new 5er sell more than the new A1? Personally I dont think so. I think the a1 will be littered everywhere and become a run away sucess.

Even though audi does all the platform sharing though, their car prices are getting stupid. 18 thousand pounds for a 1.2 audi a1.... who in their right mind would pay that?

Remember the A1 is up against the mini and co. So no, I don't think it will sell like hot cakes.

This car price frenzy you will find everywhere. In SA it's just as bad. Yet people still buy cars. I would prefer to buy a used model, cos it's more reasonably priced.

 

[PanterroR]

BMW Remains Best Selling Luxury Automaker For First Three Months Of 2010

Earlier this week we reported that Audi had overtaken Mercedes-Benz in sales for the first time ever but when it comes to the best selling luxury automaker in the world, BMW remains on top.

While Mercedes-Benz finished the first quarter of the year with 248,500 sales and Audi with 264,100, BMW came out on top with 265,809 sales in the quarter, an increase of 14 percent over the same period last year.

The positive outcome was the result of strong demand in the U.S. for the recently launched X1 compact crossover and 7-Series sedan. Throw in the fact that the all-new 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan is set to go on sale next month and things are starting to look very rosy for German automaker.

Last year, BMW finished the global sales race in the lead, followed by Mercedes-Benz in second and Audi in third. Here in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz remains on top, with Lexus coming in second followed by BMW and Audi.


Source: BMW Remains Best Selling Luxury Automaker For First Three Months Of 2010 - MotorAuthority

 

[Mockenrue]

Even though audi does all the platform sharing though, their car prices are getting stupid. 18 thousand pounds for a 1.2 audi a1.... who in their right mind would pay that?

No one! A 1.2 TFSI SE has an OTR price of £13,145. Eighteen grand would get you to the top of the range 1.4 TFSI S-Line 7-speed S-Tronic.

 

[Human]

Nice for them, nbut nothing special really. Audi is much more a brand for the masses than either MB or BMW. They will catch up with BMW too I think.

Actually Audi has outsold BMW as well in global sales so far this year :

BMW hasn't presented global sales for March yet but here's February 2010:

Global sales (YTD: February 2010)

Audi: 153,700
BMW: 148,112
Mercedes: 139,100

BMW Group with sales growth of 13.8% in first quarter

Munich. The BMW Group increased sales by 13.8% percent in the first quarter: A total of 315,614 (prev. yr. 277,264) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles were delivered to customers worldwide.

The company’s sales volumes rose 12.1% in March to reach a total of 141,701 (prev. yr. 126,381) vehicles. All three brands made strong gains: Sales of BMW brand vehicles climbed 12.7% to 117,696 (prev. yr. 104,423) units in the month under review. MINI delivered 23,880 vehicles in March (prev. yr. 21,888 / +9.1%), while Rolls-Royce automobiles were presented to 125 customers (prev. yr. 70 /+78.6%) last month.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “We are back on our growth track in nearly all the automobile markets. We had a good first quarter with a sales increase of 13.8%. We intend to continue improving on last year’s figures throughout the second quarter – thanks not least to the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and new models such as the 3 Series Coupé and Convertible.” Robertson added: “For 2010 as a whole, we are aiming for healthy growth in the single-digit percent range to reach more than 1.3 million vehicles.”

The BMW Group made gains in almost all automobile markets in the first quarter. The company achieved new quarterly records not only in the emerging BRIC countries of Brazil (1,658 / +131.2%), Russia (4,668 / +11.6%), India (1,314 / +32.5%) and China (34,179 / +106.1%), but also in Austria (3,589 / +23.1%), South Korea (3,517 / +65.8%) and Malaysia (967 / +14.0%), as well as in the Latin American markets (4,173 / +71.0% - including Brazil) and the Middle East (3,908 / +13.1%).

Despite the overall downward market trend, the BMW Group was the only German manufacturer to also make gains in its largest single market, Germany, where it expanded its market share. With a total of 56,617 (prev. yr. 55,837) vehicles sold in the country in the first three months of the year, there were 1.4% more new BMW and MINI registrations than in the same period last year.
In the United States, the company posted a 7.4% increase in volumes, with sales of 55,051 (prev. yr. 51,244) vehicles between January and March. Substantial increases were also seen in other key markets: For instance, in the United Kingdom sales climbed 13.8% to 34,327 (prev. yr. 30,165) units; in France sales were up 5.2% to 14,462 (prev. yr. 13,745) units; and in Spain sales were 37.4% higher at 10,374 (prev. yr. 7,549) units.

Once again the BMW brand’s larger model series – the BMW 7 Series with 14,245 (prev. yr. 9,246 /+54.1%) deliveries and the BMW X5 and X6 models with combined total deliveries of 33,723 (prev. yr. 30,784 /+9.5%) vehicles – contributed to first-quarter sales gains. Another key growth driver in the first three months of the year was the BMW Z4 Roadster with 6,461(prev. yr. 1,563 / +313.4%) deliveries. All three model series remained the clear global market leaders in their respective segments.
With a million units produced since its launch in 2004, the BMW 1 Series is another driving force behind the growth of the world’s leading manufacturer of premium automobiles. In the first quarter of 2010, this compact model series with four body variants reported an increase in sales of 2.4% to reach a total of 47,909 (prev. yr. 46,798) units. What is traditionally BMW’s highest-volume series, the BMW 3 Series, recorded 91,619 (prev. yr. 89,468 / +2.4%) sales in the period under review.

Ian Robertson: “New orders for the two newly launched X1 and 5 Series Sedan models are looking very good – easily exceeding our already high expectations. We are also very pleased with the market response to the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.” No fewer than 19,657 BMW X1 and 4,484 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo were delivered to customers during the first three months of the year. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan has been available in Europe since late March and will launch in the US in June. Initial deliveries of the new BMW 5 Series Touring and the new MINI Countryman will begin in the autumn of 2010 – hence sales are expected to further increase in the second half of the year in particular. Revised models of the BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, available to customers since late March, will provide additional momentum.

The main growth driver for the MINI brand in the first quarter was the MINI Convertible, which delivered the strongest growth with 5,954 (prev. yr. 1,878) sales worldwide (+217.0%). Considerably more customers chose the MINI One’s Hatch and Clubman variants than in the same period last year, with a total of 12,302 units (prev. yr. 6,889 / +78.6%) sold.

The BMW Motorcycle segment clearly exceeded last year’s sales in the first three months of this year: Sales were 20.9% higher at 20,840 units (17,232). In March 2010, 11,541 motorcycles – an increase of 26.8% - were delivered to customers (prev. yr . 9,100).

BMW Group sales in/up to March 2010 at a glance
In March 2010 / Comp. to prev. year / Up to and incl. March 2010 /Comp. to prev. year


BMW Group Automobiles 141,701 +12.1% 315,614 +13.8%
BMW 117,696 +12.7% 265,809 +13.8%
MINI 23,880 +9.1% 49,526 +13.6%
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars 125 +78.6% 279 +60.3%
BMW Motorcycles 11,541 +26.8% 20,840 +20.9%

[Source BMW]

Earlier this week we reported that Audi had overtaken Mercedes-Benz in sales for the first time ever but when it comes to the best selling luxury automaker in the world, BMW remains on top.

While Mercedes-Benz finished the first quarter of the year with 248,500 sales and Audi with 264,100, BMW came out on top with 265,809 sales in the quarter, an increase of 14 percent over the same period last year.

The positive outcome was the result of strong demand in the U.S. for the recently launched X1 compact crossover and 7-Series sedan. Throw in the fact that the all-new 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan is set to go on sale next month and things are starting to look very rosy for German automaker.

Last year, BMW finished the global sales race in the lead, followed by Mercedes-Benz in second and Audi in third. Here in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz remains on top, with Lexus coming in second followed by BMW and Audi.


Source: BMW Remains Best Selling Luxury Automaker For First Three Months Of 2010 - MotorAuthority

I believe BMW will stay on top

 

[ghusheshe]

I honestly believe so Human. With the 5er sedan and Touring, X1, X3, 6er and possible M1, the future looks bright for BMW sales in 2010.

 

[Human]

^
And looking at future product strategy i.e the FWD BMW, Z2, next 1er and other offerings under project i ...year-on-year from now BMW's strategy is planned and the road ahead paved and remember....JOY is Future proof hahahahaha

 

[Merc1]

The positive outcome was the result of strong demand in the U.S. for the recently launched X1 compact crossover

No such launch has taken place in the U.S.


M

 

[Poverty]

No one! A 1.2 TFSI SE has an OTR price of £13,145. Eighteen grand would get you to the top of the range 1.4 TFSI S-Line 7-speed S-Tronic.

16k for the 1.2 s line, 18k for the 1.4tfsi with 122ps

 

[bmer]

Personally I'm good with Mercedes-Benz not winning the sales race long as they're profitable and build higher quality cars.

I would say the exact same about BMW. I don't really care if they're the biggest or the 3rd biggest as long as they are making profit and the quality of their products is very high. On the other hand cost-cutting inflates profit but often results compromises in regards to quality.