BMW Group Reports October Sales

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported October sales of 25,475 vehicles, a decrease of 5.0 percent over the 26,821 vehicles sold in October 2007. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 261,802 vehicles, down 4.8 percent, compared to 275,094 vehicles in the same period of 2007.

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 13.9 percent in October for a total of 20,203 compared to 23,451 reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW brand sales were down 10.0 percent, to 215,836 vehicles compared to 239,788 vehicles sold in the same period in 2007.

"October sales show there is still life in the market, but it will take some hard work to achieve results," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "At BMW, our attractive APR financing rates and BMW's four year or 50,000 miles free maintenance program have been well received by customers. We believe these are major reasons why the year-to-date sales continue to track better than the overall premium market."

BMW's automobile sales are down 15.1 percent in October to 16,195 versus 19,084 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales also decreased 10.4 percent, to 169,183 automobiles compared to 188,844 in the same period of 2007.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales

MINI USA reported October sales of 5,272 automobiles, up 56.4 percent from the 3,370 cars sold in October 2007. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 45,966 automobiles, an increase of 30.2 percent, compared to the 35,306 cars reported in the first ten months of 2007.

"We are looking at MINI's continued sales success as a barometer of changing consumer habits," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "The frenzy of a couple of months ago of dumping large vehicles has abated, but our persistent and ongoing demand seems to be saying small is the new big."

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, an industrial design firm 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 Z4 models, 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, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

SOURCE BMW of North America, LLC