Global sales results: May 2012: Audi, BMW, MB

[EnI]

AUDI brand: 128,900 (+13.7%) ... YTD 600,200 (+12.1%)
http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/co...tail.2012~06~audi_continues_double-digit.html


BMW brand: 129,150 (+6.6%) ... YTD 607,207 (+9.3%)
MINI brand: 27,527 (+5.5%) ... YTD 119,532 (+7.9%)
BMW Group: 156,957 (+6.4%) ... YTD 728,029 (+9.1%)
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pres...lId=6&id=T0127509EN&left_menu_item=node__2200


MB brand: 113,136 (+4.0%) ... YTD 531,382 (+8.4%)
smart:9,464 (-9.6%) ... YTD 45,966 (+3.4%)
MB + smart: 122,600 (+3.1%) ... YTD 577,378 (+8.0%)
http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656186-1-1498142-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

 

[Human]

Audi is knocking on BMW's door. Are the F30 production in full swing and deliveries up-to-date?

 

[EnI]

318i and 316i are still missing in the portfolio. So it's 320d xDrive (coming in November).
3er F30 Sedan LWB - a very important model for catching up Audi success - is to be launch in China in the next months.
F31 Touring, very popular in Europe still to be launched in late September.
Very popular X1 LCI also around the corner (which will also be launched in US, and in China - produced locally, so very attractive model for Chinese market!), and F21 3dr 1er to join the 5dr F20 in Fall.

While Audi gains are coming from high-volume Q3 (it's a ~100k units/year model) which sales like hot cakes in Europe. A1 5dr is also adding additional sales. While Audi's enormous & most significant sales growth comes from China - exceeding BMW & MB sales there by quite a margin. And Audi already have had an advantage there. And even expanding the gap. Mainly due to advantage in local production capacities which are larger than the BMW & MB ones (since all 3 brands are very much in demand there). And Audi sales will also be boosted by upcoming A3.

It will be a close race. It can happen Audi surpasses BMW (BMW brand only, not BMW + MINI) sales in 2012 - by just a few units!

While MB is lagging behind. New ML+GL+B-class sales can't save the sales. A-class will definitely give some of the boost but - as said - A3 & 1er 3dr also coming, therefore MB won't really be able to boost the sales.

2012 has always been considered critical by BMW - due to the launch of new 3er (the most significant series for BMW, and Mk change hurts sales due to stop of production for few weeks, and not the whole portfolio of variants available instantly). 1er alone can't close the gap. And there is also X1 LCI scheduled.

 

[chonkoa]

Well done Audi.

 

[Bartek S.]

Very impressive No for Audi.

 

[K-A]

In the U.S, M-B car-brand is actually ahead of BMW car-brand in sales.

Also, interestingly, the F30 seems to be off to a lukewarm start here (the F10 has been as well, relatively speaking) while sales have seemed to be gaining momentum in the more recent months) as it showed a decline over last years sales during the May month, by a staggering 2K cars from the E90.

 

[Tumbo]

Audi can't be stopped. I put my money on them beating BMW already this year.

 

[chonkoa]

I looking forward to seeing Audi replace BMW as the number 1 in this battle, they just need to keep the momentum in NA.

 

[EnI]

^

It's all about the Chinese local production capacities more or less, since Chinese sales come from the local products mainly, and all 3 brands are very much in demand ... the battle is won or lost in the field of local Chinese vehicle production ... and the winner is already known: AUDI

Chinese local production capacity plans by 2015 (if approved by Chinese government):
Audi: 700,000
BMW: 360,000
MB: 220,000

Aggressive expansion of local Chinese production capacities is giving Audi HUGE advantage over BMW & MB since Chinese car market grows much more than other markets, and it's also huge in size ... already Audi's biggest single market!

Meaning: it's inevitable Audi will overtake BMW in global sales sooner or later. Perhaps even this year already! Mainly due to huge advantage in Chinese market. Just check the production plans again: by 2015 Audi is getting at least 340,000 units advantage over BMW. Add that to the current sales numbers which are even at the moment ... FWD BMWs (1er mini-van, BMW sub-1er) etc won't be able to close the gap. While all the others (3er GT, 4er GC, 6er GC, X4, X2 etc) are niche models. And Audi still has to introduce vans to fight 1er CST / B-class, and their "SuperAvant" models etc to boost European sales as well. Not to mention huge plans they have with A3 Sedan in US market ... and perhaps also selling Q3 there in the near future.

 

[EMpower]

In the U.S, M-B car-brand is actually ahead of BMW car-brand in sales.

Also, interestingly, the F30 seems to be off to a lukewarm start here (the F10 has been as well, relatively speaking) while sales have seemed to be gaining momentum in the more recent months) as it showed a decline over last years sales during the May month, by a staggering 2K cars from the E90.

yes. M-B will probably lead over BMW in US this year. Stiff competition.

 

[Merc1]

In the U.S. I think MB will take it this year. BMW doesn't really have anything new this fall other than the refreshed 7er. Mercedes' SUV lineup is going to be heavy with the ML already selling as fast as they build them, then the G, GLK and GL all being new and/or refreshed. When does the next BMW X5 arrive? 3-Series coupe/convertible should be online next spring in the U.S. I would like to see MB be #1 in the U.S, but I can certainly cheer BMW also for #1 long as Lexus doesn't get it.


M

 

[EnI]

BMW doesn't really have anything new this fall other than the refreshed 7er.

Here's the list of BMW Summer/Fall 2012 Collection for US market:

7er LCI (incl. new full-hybrid ActiveHybrid 7),
6er GranCoupe (640i GC in June, 650i GC & 650i GC xDrive in September),
M5 Sedan,
M6 Coupe,
M6 Cabrio,
650i (coupe & cabrio) & 550i GT engines updated to 445hp (+45hp) & 480 lb-ft (+30lb-ft)
X1 LCI (sDrive28i, xDrive28i, xDrive35i),
328i xDrive,
335i xDrive,
328i M-Sport Line,
335i M-Sport Line,
ActiveHybrid 3,
135is Coupe,
135is Cabrio.

New features & options in various models (5er, 6er, 7er etc) include like Auto-Stop Function, ECO PRO mode, new ConnectedDrive features, optional full-LED headlights, optional full-BlackPanel digital gauges, optional Individual features (like matte paints, special trims & upholstery, leathered dashboard etc), optional Bang&Olufsen Hi-Fi System, redesigned iDrive Navigation Professional etc.

IMO M-Sport pack for 3er & xDrive availability will definitely boost 3er sales past 10k mark.
X1 is awaited with much anticipation. So are the M5 & M6. 7er is selling extremely well in US, and the LCI is expected to boost the sales even more (at least until the new LS & S-class are introduced), and 6er GranCoupe will also find quite some owners - especially at launch.

And do not forget the exposure of BMW brand during the 2012 Summer Olympics - being domestic sponsor of US Olympic team, as well as general automotive sponsor of the 2012 Olympic Games.

So, BMW definitely have some aces in the sleeve for Summer/Fall 2012 - US market.

Yet MB with very popular new ML & new GL is a formidable rival for US #1 in 2012 though.

 

[Merc1]

Oh I forgot about the X1, but a lot of that outside the 3-Series isn't going to be much volume. The 6GC is make your eyes water, expensive. The volume will come from the X1 and the 3-Series variants not from the M6 and M5 models.

The 2013 650i Coupe is near perfection for me, it actually comes out cheaper than the 2012 with even more features.


M

 

[EnI]

Tons of new niche models (M5, M6, 6er GC, 135is, AH3, AH7) sure do not add huge volumes individually but they sure count aggregately when it comes to sales figure war. I'm sure all those models together will come very close to 1,000 units / month mark. This sure will help BMW sales result.

But as said: the most important BMW's aces in the sleeve are definitely the X1, and the additional 3er models (xDrive; M-Sport Line). I'm sure BMW will record quite a sales boost in Q4 (and perhaps even in Q3).

Yet the revamped M-B GL sales launch in September will give MB a significant boost since in US GL is a volume model!

********

Btw, what it stands out in negative way are the 3er sales in May 2012 - with 1,800 vehicles sold LESS than in May 2011.
In May 2012 MB sold more C-class cars than BMW did 3ers!!! (6,649 vs 6,321).
The 3er May 2012 sales must to be a hiccup - since the May sales were even lower than traditionally slow January sales (when F30 wasn't even available yet; it was launched in mid-February).
3er US sales 2012:
Jan: 6,698
Feb: 8,103 (F30 launched in mid-February)
Mar: 9,897
Apr: 9,003
May: 6,321 (-30% drop compared to April sales, or HUGE 2,682 vehicles!!!)

With 3er May '12 sales on a sales level of prior two months BMW would be ahead of MB in total sales since MB now leads in YTD sales (Jan-May '12) for about 1,600 units only.

 

[K-A]

As much as I detest M-B bringing their product line and level of cachet as they have in the U.S down by introducing a FWD Hatch to our market, and not to mention, a FWD "4-Door Coupe" mini-CLS, those (A-Class, CLC) will probably skyrocket M-B's sales past the tit-for-tat levels they have w/ BMW right now I'd think. Unless the A-Class flops, it can add a tremendous volume to M-B (note that I'm speaking logically, since as an M-B enthusiast, I see this as a downside on a passionate level).

What's surprised me is the F30's decrease in sales from the E90 thus far, out here. I'm sure it'll pick up steam, especially as the 4 Wheel Drive version comes, but its been available for months, and I don't think anyone would have predicted a 2K drop from May of last year, WHEN BMW cars as a whole were up from May of last year.

 

[EnI]

Also mind the 3er sales include Coupe & Cabrio, which are in general decline due to upcoming Mk change. So F30 Sedan has to contribute alone to the 3er sales growth.
And it still isn't available in very attractive xDrive / M-Sport guise.

The drop in 3er sales must be a hiccup in F30 Sedan supply, I'm sure. Since the drop is too drastic to indicate demand issues. Especially since the F30 is quite an upgrade from E90. The fact which can additionally hurt E92/93 sales.

The 3er May sales result is an anomaly - since only Z4 recorded more significant drop in sales, and beside 3er & Z4 the 7er sales were the only ones that went down. All the other BMW models recorded sales increase in May '12. Eg. 5er for huge 45% (from 4,200 in May '11 to 6,100 in May '12), or X5 for 39% (from 2,690 to 3,730), not to mention the new 6er (+170% - from 280 to 725).

Mind 3er YTD sales are still up +15.3% from 2011 (just trailing behind 6er & X5 YTD sales growth; the only two models that recorded YTD drop in US sales are Z4 & 1er) - despite the huge drop in May '12 sales. With May sales on April level the YTD increase would be +23%.

When it comes to A3 Sedan & CLA (4dr A-Class) ... they will sure add quite some sales to Audi / MB in US market. And BMW will have to answer sooner or later with 1er Sedan / 2er GranCoupe. The sooner, the better.

BMW is coming with X1 to the US market... and I'm sure - if a success - Audi will offer Q3 to US customers very soon, and MB BLK will also be available in US market when launched.

X5 sales are surprising! +39% increase in May '12, while YTD sales are up +25%. And it's not a new Mk at all! Even the LCI is history already. And even X6 sales increased in May (+31%; +3% YTD).

 

[K-A]

May must have been the kick in the butt the 5-Series needed out here, as with that momentum and whatever lead up to it, I relatively recently started noticing how many F10's there are on the roads now (a lot), though I still do confuse them with the 7er quite a bit.