BMW Group U.S. Division Reports April 2009 Sales

Fri May 1, 2009 1:42pm EDT
 
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Despite sales decline of 38.4 percent in April (BMW and MINI combined), both
BMW and MINI continue to track better than their market segments year-to-date.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and
MINI combined) reported April sales of 19,362 vehicles, a decrease of 38.4
percent from the 31,448 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008.  The BMW
Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 70,606 vehicles, down 29.4
percent, compared to 99,977 vehicles sold in the same period a year ago. 
Despite the negative development in April, both BMW and MINI continue to track
better than their market segments year-to-date. 

BMW Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 41.3 percent in April for a total of
15,705 vehicles compared to 26,735 vehicles reported in the same month a year
ago.  Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 31.3 percent, to 58,436 vehicles
compared to 85,100 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008. 

"Industry wide, April felt more like a dust bowl than a spring garden for new
car sales but at least we are seeing improvements compared to the dark
beginning of the year," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America
LLC.  "For us, strong BMW Certified Pre-Owned business continues to bring new
and younger customers into the family while we manage the new vehicle sales as
well as we can until this garden begins to grow again - hopefully by the end
of the year."

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
Sales of BMW's Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are up 1.3 percent, to 9,354 CPO
vehicles versus 9,237 vehicles reported last April 2008.  Year-to-date, CPO
sales are up 10.3 percent, to 38,000 over the 34,461 reported in the same
period of 2008. For BMW, the healthy development of the used car business adds
another source of revenue to dealer operations and helps offset the decline in
new car sales.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 3,657 automobiles, down 22.4 percent from the 4,713
cars sold in April 2008.  Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 12,170
automobiles, a decrease of 18.2 percent, compared to the 14,877 cars reported
in April 2008.

"We've seen sales stabilizing month-to-month in our segment in April but this
stability has come at the price of greater sales stimulation by everyone,"
said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA.  "MINI has largely managed to stay
away from 'sweeteners to the deal' in the past. However, last month we
introduced a modest incentive allowing us to track better than our segment
year-to-date and continue to improve our sales month-to-month since January."

Click to see additional video commentary
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIAEXdy0tL0) by Stephen J. Saward, Sales
Manager, MINI USA regarding MINI's sales performance in April. 

Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, April 2009
                               April    April           YTD      YTD
                               2009     2008     %      2009     2008     %

    BMW brand                 15,705   26,735  -41.3   58,436   85,100  -31.3
     BMW passenger cars       12,826   20,930  -38.7   47,066   67,083  -29.8
     BMW light trucks (SAVs)   2,879    5,805  -50.4   11,370   18,017  -36.9

    MINI brand                 3,657    4,713  -22.4   12,170   14,877  -18.2

    TOTAL Group               19,362   31,448  -38.4   70,606   99,977  -29.4



Sales BMW of North America, LLC, April 2009
                                               YTD         YTD
                April 09  April 08    %     April 09     April 08    %

    1 Series      1,057    1,125    -6.0%     3,565        2,621   36.0%
    3 Series      6,013   11,401   -47.3%    25,904       38,414  -32.6%
    Z4 Roadster
     and Coupe       23    1,021   -97.7%       125        2,680  -95.3%
    5 Series      4,319    4,783    -9.7%    14,146       15,673   -9.7%
    6 Series        622    1,006   -38.2%     1,584        2,422  -34.6%
    7 Series        792    1,594   -50.3%     1,742        5,273  -67.0%
    BMW passenger
     cars        12,826   20,930   -38.7%    47,066       67,083  -29.8%
                 ------   ------   ------    ------       ------  ------
    X3              392   1,777    -77.9%     1,506        5,967  -74.8%
    X5            2,065   3,373    -38.8%     8,627       11,395  -24.3%
    X6              422     655    -35.6%     1,237          655   88.9%
    BMW light
     trucks
     (SAVs)       2,879    5,805   -50.4%    11,370       18,017  -36.9%
                 ------   ------   ------    ------       ------  ------
    BMW brand    15,705   26,735   -41.3%    58,436       85,100  -31.3%
                 ------   ------   ------    ------       ------  ------
    Cooper /S
     Hardtop      2,235    3,083   -27.5%     8,186       10,250  -20.1%
    Cooper /S
     Convertible    633      651    -2.8%       976        1,880  -48.1%
    Cooper /S
     Clubman        789      979   -19.4%     3,008        2,747    9.5%
    MINI brand    3,657    4,713   -22.4%    12,170       14,877  -18.2%
                 ------   ------   ------    ------       ------  ------
    TOTAL BMW of
     North America,
     LLC         19,362   31,448   -38.4%    70,606       99,977  -29.4%
                 ------   ------   ------    ------       ------  ------



BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. 
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW
Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and
financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including
motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars;
DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology
office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. 
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global
manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5
Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes.  The BMW Group sales
organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger
car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle
retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car
dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North
America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the
Internet at:

www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusanews.com
www.press.bmw-motorsport.com

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available
to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address:
www.press.bmwgroup.com and select "USA" from the list of National PressClubs. 
Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at
www.thenewsmarket.com.




SOURCE  BMW of North America, LLC

Jan Ehlen, Business Communications Manager of BMW of North America, LLC,
+1-201-307-3789, jan.ehlen@bmwna.com

 

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