BMW AG reported a rise in second quarter EBT to euro 1,299 million this morning. This is a strong step towards achieving it ‘s heady profit targets for 2010 and puts the company in line for growth of around 10%.

Official Release: The BMW Group recorded a significant increase in sales volume, revenues and earnings in the second quarter 2010. Group revenues increased by 18.3% to euro 15,348 million (2009: euro 12,971 million) while the profit before financial result (EBIT) rose to euro 1,717 million (2009: euro 169 million). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of 11.2%. The profit before tax jumped to euro 1,299 million (2009: euro 151 million), with the profit after tax improving to euro 834 million (2009: euro 121 million). The number of vehicles sold during the period from April to June increased by 12.5% to 380,412 units (2009: 338,190 units).

“Sharp sales volume growth on major markets and a high-value model mix are the main reasons for the strong second-quarter performance. We have also used the economic crisis as a source of opportunity and have improved efficiency significantly in all areas of the company“, stated Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG on Tuesday in Munich. “We have made good progress towards achieving our profitability targets for the year 2012. But we have no intention of resting on our laurels. We are determined to remain on track to make the company sustainably fit for the future”, he continued.
Six-month revenues increased by 13.5% to euro 27,791 million (2009: euro 24,480 million). EBIT for the period amounted to euro 2,166 million (2009: euro 114 million) and the profit before tax was euro 1,807 million (2009: loss before tax of euro 47 million). The Group EBIT margin was therefore 7.8%. The profit after tax was euro 1,158 million (2009: loss of euro 31 million). The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers during the first six months of the year rose by 13.1% to 696,026 units (2009: 615,454 units).

Targeting EBIT margin of over 5% in Automobiles segment in 2010

The strong demand for new models such as the BMW 5 Series and BMW X1 alongside the sharp growth achieved with other models – including the BMW 7 Series – suggest that earnings will continue to rise dynamically during the remainder of the year. In view of the market success enjoyed by our products and the generally improved climate on international car markets, the BMW Group raised its full-year earnings and sales volume forecasts in mid-July.

The company now expects to achieve an even greater improvement in pre-tax earnings than originally forecast. “We are aiming to achieve significantly higher group earnings in 2010 than in 2009, thus making an important step towards achieving the targets we have set for 2012”, stated Reithofer. The aim is to achieve an EBIT margin of over 5% in the Automobiles segment as well as sharply improved pre-tax earnings and a return on equity of over 18% in the Financial Services segment.

Attractive products and the worldwide economic recovery will help to boost sales volumes in 2010: “We intend, as the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cars, to increase our sales volume in the current year by around 10% to over 1.4 million vehicles“, commented Reithofer.

“That said, we still need to keep in mind that some economic risks could persist during the second half of the year“, continued Reithofer. For this reason, the forecast is given with the proviso that the economic recovery continues and that general business conditions are not significantly dampened.

In 2012, the BMW Group aims – as part of its Strategy Number ONE – to achieve an unchanged EBIT margin of eight to ten percent in the Automobiles segment and a return on equity of at least 18% in the Financial Services segment.

Sharp improvement in Automobiles segment’s EBIT margin

The Automobiles segment put in an extremely dynamic second-quarter performance. The segment’s profit improved sharply on the back of higher sales volumes worldwide, a higher-value model-mix and better selling prices. Benefits are also already coming through from the increased use of modular components.
The second-quarter EBIT rose to euro 1,317 million (2009: negative EBIT of euro 31 million) on revenues of euro 13.669 million (2009: euro 10,827 million/+26.2%), giving an EBIT margin of 9.6%. The second-quarter profit before tax increased to euro 938 million (2009: loss before tax of euro 158 million). Six-month revenues of the Automobiles segment rose to euro 24,341 million (2009: euro 20,432 million/+19.1%). The segment EBIT for the six-month period turned from a loss of euro 282 million to a profit of euro 1,608 million, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 6.6%. The segment profit before tax improved to euro 1,158 million (2009: loss before tax of euro 629 million). Adjusted for the further externalisation of pension obligations (euro 410 million), free cash flow generated by the Automobiles segment amounted to euro 1,199 million (2009: euro 623 million/+92.5%) for the six-month period.
The total number of cars sold by the BMW brand during the first half of the year rose by 14.1% to 585,755 units (2009: 513,591 units). Models contributing to this growth included the BMW X1, the BMW X5 und X6, the BMW 7 Series and BMW Z4. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan has also had a good start: since the introduction to the European markets in mid-March, some 25,000 units have been sold. The new model has been available in the USA since June and is receiving a similar level of acclaim amongst customers there.

Further attractive new models going on sale in the coming months are the new BMW 5 Series Touring, the extended-wheelbase version of the BMW 5 Series Sedan for the Chinese market, the BMW X3 and the MINI Countryman.

During the first half of the year, sales of the BMW X1 and BMW 5 Series GT totalled 46,705 units and 11,803 units respectively. The sales volume of all 5 Series models taken together rose by 10.8% to 94,699 units (2009: 85,476 units), thanks, amongst other factors, to the successful start of the new 5 Series Sedan.

Also registering good growth were the BMW 7 Series with 30,711 units sold (2009: 20,479 units /+50.0%) and the BMW X5 and X6 models with a combined total of 68,632 units sold (+7.1%/2009: 64,078 units). Sales of the BMW Z4 Roadster grew by 74.7% to 14,236 units (2009: 8,148 units) for the six-month period.

As a result, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X5 and X6 as well as the BMW Z4 all remained market leaders in their respective segments. The traditionally best selling model also increased its sales volume during the period under report: six-month sales of the BMW 3 Series were up by 3.0% to 199,027 units (2009: 193,186 units).

MINI brand sales climbed by 7.6% in the first half of the year to 109,301 units (2009: 101,534 units). Once the MINI Countryman comes onto the market from autumn onwards, the MINI brand will then have four variants. The BMW Group is confident that the first MINI Crossover model, plus model revisions of the remainder of the model range, will generate good sales momentum over the course of the second half of the year.

Rolls-Royce sold more cars during the first half of 2010 than it has in any six-month period since making its return to the market in 2003. With 970 units (2009: 329 units) handed over to customers, the sales volume almost tripled in the first six months of the year.

The BMW Group recorded sales volume growth in virtually all markets during the first half of the year, with China, the Americas and Europe registering the highest growth rates. In Europe, the number of cars sold rose by 4.0% to 389,831 units. The company also remained on a growth course in its largest international market during the period under report, with sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand cars rising in the USA by 6.4% to 121,912 units. The BMW Group therefore remained the best-selling European premium car manufacturer in the US market.

Sales in Asia during the period from January to June climbed by 57.7% to 128,845 units. The Chinese market continued to grow dynamically, with the number of cars sold during the six-month period more than doubling to 75,615 units (2009: 37,627 units/+101.0%). The sales volume including Hong Kong and Taiwan was 81,807 units (+99.5%).

BMW Motorrad reports sharply improved second-quarter earnings

BMW Motorrad’s earnings increased sharply in the second quarter on the back of a good sales volume performance despite otherwise unfavourable business conditions. Six-month segment revenues rose by 30.7% to euro 439 million (2009: euro 336 million). EBIT for the period rose to euro 54 million (2009: euro 26 million) and the result before tax improved to euro 53 million (2009: euro 24 million). Six-month revenues increased to euro 790 million (2009: euro 626 million/+26.2%). The segment reported an EBIT for the first half of the year of euro 86 million (2009: euro 54 million) and a profit before tax of euro 83 million (2009: euro 50 million).

Sales of BMW brand motorcycles in the second quarter increased by 21.6% to 36,175 units (2009: 29,742 units). During the first half of the year, BMW Motorrad sold 57,015 units (2009: 46,974 units). This corresponds to an increase of 21.4%. The best-seller list was headed by the large, long-distance enduro R 1200 GS, making it the best-sold bike in the 500 cc plus motorcycles segment worldwide. Sales of the S 1000 RR – the first supersport bike manufactured by BMW Motorrad – reached a total of 6,459 units worldwide in the six-month period from January to June (of which 1,223 were sold in June).

Two new luxurious BMW Touring motorcycles, the K 1600 GT and the K 1600 GTL, will be presented to the public for the first time in autumn. For the first time in the segment’s history, both of these models will be fitted with six-cylinder in-line engines.

Sharp rise in Financial Services segment earnings

The Financial Services segment again performed well during the period from April to June 2010. Second-quarter segment revenues, at euro 4,198 million (2009: euro 4,224 million), were virtually identical to the previous year. The pre-tax profit improved to euro 379 million (2009: euro 81 million) thanks to the economic recovery and significantly lower refinancing costs. The second-quarter segment EBIT jumped to euro 379 million (2009: euro 75 million). The six-month segment profit before tax rose to euro 601 million (2009: euro 153 million), while the segment EBIT improved to euro 592 million (euro 145 million).
At 30 June 2010, the Financial Services segment was managing a portfolio of 3,119,340 lease and credit financing contracts, 3.0% more than in the previous year. The number of new contracts rose worldwide by 8.5% to a total of 527,044 contracts. The growth of credit financing (up 10.3% on the first half of the previous year) contributed especially to this performance. The leasing business recorded a growth of 4.3%. Lease contracts and credit financing accounted for 28.4% and 71.6% of new business respectively. The proportion of new cars of the BMW Group financed or leased by the Financial Services segment was 46.6%, 0.4 percentage points below the proportion recorded one year earlier.

Workforce of 95,502 employeesat the end of second quarter

The BMW Group had a workforce of 95,502 employees at the end of the second quarter (2009: 98,261 employees), 2.8% fewer than one year earlier. Compared to the beginning of the year, the number of employees remained more or less stable (-0.7%). As part of a forward-looking approach to skills management, the BMW Group will recruit approximately 1,000 new employees over the course of 2010, of which roughly one half will be based in Germany. Most of the new staff are being taken on to work in the areas of research and development as well as purchasing and sales. In addition, some 1,080 apprentices will be joining BMW AG in autumn 2010.

Statement by Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Over the first six months of 2010, our business performance has improved to show a positive, dynamic development. This is why we raised our forecast for 2010 on July 13th:

– We plan to sell over 1.4 million cars – 10 percent more than in 2009.
– We aim at improving our pre-tax profit significantly above the 2009 level.
– In the automobile segment, we expect to post an EBIT margin of over five percent.

Where do we stand following the first six months of the current business year?

– We have generated a positive profit before tax of 1.8 billion Euros. This result is considerably above the same period in 2008 and about on par with the result achieved in the first two quarters of 2007.
– Group net profit stood at 1.1 billion Euros.
– EBIT in the automobile segment was clearly positive at 1.6 billion Euros.
– We also generated an adjusted free cash flow in the automobile segment of around 1.2 billion Euros.

This year offers a threefold benefit that comes from the following:

– First: the economic recovery in some markets.
– Second: the new attractive products that are in great demand.
– And third: the substance and efficiency enhancements that our company has achieved by continuing to focus on implementing strategy Number ONE.

To the first point:

Some key markets like China and North America are growing. The same is true of India, Brazil and several markets in Europe. We have benefitted from the economic upswing in these markets. At present, this applies mainly to China.

In the first six months of the current business year, we managed to double our sales volume as the overall Chinese automobile market improved by 50 per cent. China remains a market with potential. It is presently the third most important market for our company, in terms of retail:

– We are currently building a new plant in Tiexi. The start of production is scheduled for 2012.
– We are expanding our dealership network.
– And we will give 50 MINI E cars to Chinese customers for test purposes this year.

With regard to the BMW Group’s business, it is nevertheless important to me to emphasize:

– We are not solely relying on China.
– We are a company that acts and operates globally.
– We are active in all relevant markets.
– And we want to be successful in all these markets.

As the world’s leading premium car manufacturer in terms of sales, we are aiming at a balanced business performance between Europe, Asia and the Americas. In other words: We want to grow on all continents, in large and small markets alike.

Naturally, we are pleased about the additional tailwind the economic upswing in some countries is providing us. However, as we aim to achieve sound and sustainable growth in an uncertain environment, success will primarily depend on our own performance and our own strengths:

– as a driver of innovation
– as a company with an obtainable vision for the future
– as a company that offers attractive products.

On to the second point:

Our models are attractive more than ever. This applies to all models, irrespective of the segment. Let me give you some examples for the first half of the year:

– Over 30,700 BMW 7 Series were delivered to customers, making the 7 Series the clear segment leader.
– The new BMW 5 Series Sedan sold 25,000 units in the three and a half months since its market launch.
– Over 68,600 customers bought a BMW X5 or X6.
– More than 46,700 customers chose a new BMW X1.
– We delivered 199,000 BMW 3 Series and more than 103,000 BMW 1 Series.
– And we have never sold more Rolls-Royce motor cars in a six-month period than in 2010.

All in all, worldwide sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce in the first six months of the current business year stood at over 696,000 cars and exceeded last year’s period by 13 percent.
At the same time BMW Motorrad improved significantly: Sales of the BMW brand rose by 21 percent to about 57,000 units in the first half of the year – bucking the trend in the motorcycle market. Because most motorcycle markets are still in decline.

Our Financial Services segment is growing as well. As you know, we have restructured and realigned our Financial Services division.

Now, a few more highlights about what’s to come:

In the second half of 2010 we are launching attractive new models:

– The Chinese market entry of the new 5 Series Sedan long version is scheduled for September.
– The 5 Series with all-wheel drive will be launched shortly.
– The 5 Series model range will soon be complemented by the 5 Series Touring.
– The second generation of the BMW X3 will be available starting this fall.
– MINI’s new highlight is the Countryman that has just been presented to the international media in Hamburg – and has received positive feedback.
– With the model update of the MINI, the Clubman and the MINI Convertible, our customers can choose from a newly revised MINI portfolio.

There is one thing we never lose sight of: Irrespective of a particular drive system or number of cylinders – we will always offer our customers the best performance with the best engine efficiency. This is what sheer driving pleasure is all about. This is the promise that every customer has with our premium brands.

And finally, my third point:

With the implementation of our Strategy Number ONE, we have set the foundation to ensure the successful development of our company over the long term.

This is primarily due to our innovative strength. Let me give you two examples:

– The increased application of modules is bearing fruit. Initial effects have been achieved with the new BMW 5 Series model range. And each new model series will increase the economies of scale.
– Our three brands demonstrate our ability to develop and launch premium brands – from the small-car to the ultra-luxury segment – and at the same time to strengthen their respective brand value. You can be sure that we will pursue the same approach with our new sub-brand. Under the new label, we will gradually offer a full range of low-emission cars – starting with the Megacity Vehicle. This is in our DNA as the world’s most sustainable car company.

Our key figures for the first six months of the year demonstrate that we have taken a major step toward reaching our profitability targets for the year 2012.

However, we are definitely aware of the fact that this is not the time to sit back and relax. We have not yet achieved our target – neither for the business year 2010 nor for the following years.
But be assured: The Board of Management as well as the managers and employees will stay on track to make our vision for 2020 become a reality.