BMW Group Sales in the US Up 3.1% for May

BMW NA Press Release: The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported May vehicle sales of 31,781, an increase of 3.1 percent from the 30,819 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007. For the first five months of 2008, BMW Group sales are down 2.4 percent, to 131,758 vehicles versus the 134,944 sold January through May of 2007.

BMW Brand Sales BMW brand sales were down 4.6 percent, to 25,469 vehicles compared to 26,689 vehicles sold in May 2007. Year-to-date, BMW reported sales of 110,569 vehicles compared to the 119,359 reported in the same period a year ago, a decline of 7.4 percent.

“In spite of the small decline we saw in May, we see that buyers of premium vehicles remain active in the market. This continues to help keep our turn rates strong and momentum maintained through this difficult period,” said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. “In addition, we are finding that buyers respond positively to the fact that premium products can also be efficient and smart purchases. This is a message we continue to communicate about our BMW lineup.”

BMW Automobile Sales BMW’s automobile sales are down 7.2 percent in May to 19,884 versus 21,421 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales are down 6.8 percent, to 86,967 automobiles compared to 93,327 in the same period of 2007.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicles Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles are up 6 percent in May to 5,585 vehicles over the 5,268 sold last May. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased by 9.3 percent, to 23,602 vehicles compared to the 26,032 sold in the same period of 2007.

MINI Brand Sales MINI USA reported an all-time record in May. The brand sold 6,312 cars, a 52.8 percent increase compared to 4,130 cars sold in the same period a year ago. MINI USA also reported sales of 21,189 cars for the first five months of 2008, an increase of 36 percent over the 15,585 vehicles sold in the same period a year ago.

Both the MINI Cooper and Cooper S, as well as the new MINI Clubman were very well received during the month of May.

Says Jim McDowell, Vice-President MINI USA: “Dealers are seeing a wide range of trade-ins including a lot of full-size SUVs and pick-up trucks as America thinks more about the cost of fuel. As a result, we are seeing more consideration for small premium vehicles like MINI than ever before.”