1 Series helps BMW Group record March & 1Q05 sales

[AR67Duetto]

"<b> BMW GROUP INCREASES SALES IN FIRST QUARTER BY 8.2%</b>
04/07/2005

New highs on monthly and quarterly basis
Successful start for the new BMW 3 Series Sedan

Munich. The BMW Group increased its sales in the first quarter of 2005 by 8.2% to a new high of 292,207 automobiles (previous year: 269,974). The BMW brand deliveries to customers in the first three months rose by 7.8% to 239.387 vehicles (previous year: 222,087). MINI recorded an increase of 10.3% to 52,694 units (previous year: 47,774). Rolls-Royce Motor Cars delivered 126 Phantoms to customers (previous year: 139/-9.4%).

Germany and the USA were neck and neck in the first quarter, with 65,680 (previous year: 60,462/+8.6%) and 65,536 (previous year: 61,241/+7.0%) cars sold respectively. Examples of countries with well above average growth are Portugal with a rise of 43.9% to 1,973 units (previous year: 1,371), Russia at 44.4% (1,350/previous year: 935) and the African/Caribbean region with a rise of 22.6% (6,965/previous year: 5,680).

Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing, said: "All over the world, the BMW Group has developed far better in the first quarter than its relevant competitors. This means that we have further expanded our position in the premium segment. We achieved this improvement even though the BMW 3 Series is in the model changeover phase."

The BMW Group has also achieved a record volume on a monthly basis. March 2005 was the best-ever sales month for the BMW Group, with 127,093 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars sold. This is a rise of 7.9% over the same month last year (117,826).

The BMW brand increased sales in March by 7% to 104,909 vehicles (previous year: 98,037) - which is also a new high. The entire model range was responsible for this success.

Since the world launch of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan on March 5, 6,444 units have already been delivered. The BMW 3 Series is the world's best-selling premium automobile of its class. All the indications are that the new 3 Series Sedan will help to consolidate this position still further. The BMW Series is due to go on sale in the U.S. on May 7.

Record sales levels were also achieved for the MINI brand, both in the first quarter 2005 and monthly. In March, the 20,000 mark was passed for the first time in a single month, with 22,130 vehicles sold (previous year: 19,740/+12.1%). The convertible variant, with 5,389 units sold, accounts for about a quarter of the total sales volume. Comparing sales by country, the MINI home country - the United Kingdom - is still the undisputed leader, with 7,244 MINI cars sold in March, followed by the U.S. (4,127), Germany (2,755), Italy (2,004) and Japan (1,621).

Motorcycle segment increases by 10% in March
With 11,793 deliveries to customers, the motorcycles segment is 10% ahead in March (previous year: 10,720). For the period up to and including March, the growth rate is 18.8%, with 21,304 units sold (Q1 2004: 17,935). In the first quarter of 2005, the bestseller in the BMW motorcycle business remains the Enduro R 1200 GS with 6,772 units delivered. In terms of volume, this is followed by the sports bike K 1200 S with 2,230 vehicles sold, with the R 1200 RT tourer in third place (2,183).
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Reuters article, including brief comparison with M-B & Audi; corroborating Ganal's comments. <font color= white>
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~bmv

<img src=http://mcacshow.isg.de/bmw/bmw_teaser_2004.chart?l=e&e=hi>

[ckolsen]

Chris
'95 325i

[AR67Duetto]

<font color= white>
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~bmv

<img src=http://mcacshow.isg.de/bmw/bmw_teaser_2004.chart?l=e&e=hi>

[Funny...]

Oh yeah baby... that is what I am talking about! 230ci, or depending on the naming convention, 130ci

[tg]

I doubt that.3 door hatch,touring and a convertible,perhaps with a steel roof, are the most likely next models.the convertible and especially the 3door hatch will cannibalise coupe sales in most markets,the only market where micro coupes have still a small niche is actually the US.And there is a pricing problem.With the usual coupe premium it would cost as much as a 3er series.

['08 235CTii]

Actually, some mag "revealed" the 2er Coupe and soft top roadster (alloy top is reserved for new 3er Coupe&Cabrio) are scheduled for '07 the earliest :(..
A sporty 3dr hot hatch is the next 1er model,appearing late '06 as '07 model.Not confirmed if it is US bound,due to the increasingly stringent federalization process.A facelift for 5dr is coming in '06 to answer the criticism of the bangled styling.

[ckolsen]

Chris
'95 325i

[2.0L dohc + 6sp + fwk]

I can barely wait to drive the 130i myself. I just wonder how much it'll end up costing..

[petrol with estimated 330-360 bhp to face RS3 v-6]

A 135Ti/CTi would provide stiff competition even for the new RS3!
BMW may be _very_ late to jump on the turbopetrol craze that's all the rage on the continent tuning scene. Golf GTi5, A3 TFSI, Focus ST, Megane Trophy, Wrx, EVO, Leon R, Corolla TTE, Volvo S4 t5 and even Mercedes A/B200T etc already offer modern, tuning-friendly turbopetrol motors. BMW will use a rare dual turbo layout,rather than the mainstream single-turbo setups. First motor will be a 3L I6 in a '07 E90 335Ti,and more will follow. Initially they wont be badged M-cars,but this may change if/when the majority (or even all!) of the new BMW motors will eventually be turbos!

[Einser fahrer]

[DIYCD3]

[half of M-car lineup may get turbopower cuz the]

Turbos=cheap way to make big hp/tq figures..

[Einser fahrer]

The high revving NA engine. Anyone can bolt on a turbocharger or a supercharger.

Perhaps you can share the "many sources" so we can judge for ourselves. I for one have never seen such rumours. The only rumour I know is of an I6 with twin turbo's like the 535d to plug the gap between the 258hp 3 litre and the upcoming 400hp 4 litre V8 in the E90 M3.

[Giles]

Talked to my local dealer in Canberra and we are getting the 130i. wooohooo time to trade the CooperS in on this beauty

[Kaptain]