BMW Group Press Release: BMW Group continued to gain momentum strongly again, as planned. In the month under review, the number of automobiles delivered rose by 9.0% to 105,994 (prev.yr.: 97,256). For the year to the end of February, 198,628 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were sold (prev.yr.: 191,357). This corresponds to a growth rate of 3.8% in comparison with the same period last year.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Stefan Krause, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing, emphasised the positive sales outlook for 2008 as a whole. At the same time, he underlined the significance of the resource-saving EfficientDynamics programme for the company ‘s further sales success. “With EfficientDynamics, we have created a clear competitive advantage for ourselves. In the current year, we will probably sell, in Europe alone, around 700,000 BMW and 130,000 MINI vehicles with this innovative technology for reducing consumption and emissions. We are moving towards setting a new volume sales record in 2008, which means that we will maintain our position as leaders in the premium segment. ”

The number of BMW models fitted with EfficientDynamics is continuing to grow. At the moment, BMW is introducing motor show visitors in Geneva to three new models – the BMW 1 Series Cabrio, the X6 and the M3 Cabrio – which have EfficientDynamics on board as standard and which will be boosting sales even further over the next months.

Sales of the BMW brand rose in February by 5.5% to 89.983 automobiles (prev.yr.: 85,310). The main drivers behind this growth included the BMW 1 Series model range, with 13,874 units sold (prev.yr.: 9,646 / +43.8%) and the BMW X5, sales of which, at 10,445 automobiles (prev.yr.: 5,127 / +103.7%) almost doubled over the same month last year. In the BMW 1 Series, the new 1 Series three-door version available since May last year (3,808 units sold) and the 1 Series Coupé, launched in Europe at the end of November 2007 (1,007 units sold) ensured strong growth. The BMW 1 Series Coupé will also be available from March in the important US market and will ensure continued positive, dynamic growth in sales of the 1 Series. The new BMW 3 Series Cabrio, which has now been on the market since the end of March last year, also recorded a major increase in sales with 3,911 units delivered. The BMW 5 Series, with sales of 15,970 (prev.yr.: 15,752 / +1.4%), the BMW 6 Series with sales of 1,254 (prev.yr.: 1,179 / +6.4%) and the BMW 7 Series at 3,299 (prev.yr.: 2,769 / +19.1%) as well as the BMW Z4 at 1,791 (prev.yr.: 1,611/ +11.2%) units sold also clearly surpassed last year ‘s figures. For the year to the end of February, sales of the BMW brand, at 167,139 units, were above last year ‘s level (165,768 / +0.8%).

MINI delivers a third more vehicles in February

The MINI brand was able to continue its successful progress in February. In the month under review, 15,954 MINI vehicles were sold, which is 34.0% more than in the same month last year (prev.yr.: 11,908). The new MINI Clubman made a major contribution towards this positive development – 2,982 Clubman were delivered to customers in February.
For the year to the end of February, the number of MINI vehicles delivered rose by 23.0% to 31,391 vehicles (prev.yr.: 25,526).

Rolls-Royce presents the fourth member of the Phantom family in Geneva – the Phantom Coupé
With 57 (prev.yr.: 38) vehicles delivered, marking an increase of 50%, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars also had another strong month. For the year to the end of February, the number of cars delivered reached 98 units (prev.yr.: 63/ +55.6%). The Rolls-Royce model range is being further expanded. The fourth member of the Phantom family – the Phantom Coupé – is being presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Production of this luxury coupé, which offers a superb driving experience, will be starting in the summer in Goodwood, England.

BMW Motorcycles saw a decrease in sales of 2.5% in February compared to the same month last year, with 6,254 units sold (prev.yr.: 6,413). For the year to the end of February 2008, 9,955 motorcycles were delivered to customers (prev.yr.: 10,565 / -5.8%).