BMW GROUP SALES CONTINUE TO BE DYNAMIC
08 November 2004 - BMW Motorrad GB

8% growth in October. Ten-month increase of 9%. Successful expansion into three new segments.

The BMW Group continued its growth with a clear increase in sales of 8.2% to over 100,000 automobiles (101,899 / prev.yr.: 94,172). Up to and including October, 8.8% more BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles were delivered than in the same period last year (989,197 / prev.yr.: 909,489). The sale of BMW brand motor cars rose in October by 8.9% to 86,768 units (prev.yr.: 79,680). In the first ten months of the year, the rate of growth was 9.6% to reach 830,698 BMW vehicles which were supplied to customers.

Successful entry into new segments
The driving forces for this well above-average increase in sales - compared with the overall market - were, in particular, the new BMW 1 Series, X 3 and 6 Series. Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing, commented: ''With these products, we have entered three new segments in nine months. This is unique in the history of the company. The market successes so far of all three model series indicate that this expansion on the product side will be a long-term success.''

With the launch of the BMW X3 in January this year, the company established the compact Premium Sports Activity Vehicle segment. By the end of October, almost 70,000 units (69,120) had been handed over to customers. The BMW brand product portfolio was also expanded at the beginning of the year in the large coupé and convertible sector with the addition of the 6 Series. The BMW dealer organisation sold 17,466 of these models in the first ten months of the year. The launch of the BMW 1 Series in the middle of September was also promising: in its first six weeks, 15,266 of this premium compact-class car have already found a buyer.

As regards the MINI brand, the 500,000th vehicle since the market launch a good three years ago was handed over to its owner (sales up to and including October 2004 since July 2001: 503,507). In October 2004, sales of MINI rose by 4.3%. 15,060 of this brand - one of the great successes in the small car segment - left the dealerships this month (prev.yr.: 14,439). Seen over ten months, the increase is 4.2%, to 157,943 vehicles sold. The development in MINI sales in 2004 is also set to be positive in a year-on-year comparison. Sales have shown a high level of increase for the third year in a row. In the small cars segment and with only two chassis variants - closed and convertible - this growth is remarkable. The convertible, which has been available since July this year, has proved extremely popular, with 12,661 cars delivered to date.

The model mix and range of equipment for the MINI continue to be of a high value. For the period up to and including October, sales are made up as follows: 75,124 MINI Cooper (48%), 45,181 MINI One (28%) and 37,638 MINI Cooper S (24%). The average sales price continues to be well over 20,000 euros.

Rolls-Royce delivered 71 Phantoms to customers in October. The volume of sales of Rolls-Royce cars now totals 556 since the beginning of the year.

The motorcycle segment continues to show a growth on a monthly basis. Sales rose in October by 10.3% to 6,371 units (prev.yr.: 5,777).
In a ten-month comparison, the number of two-wheelers delivered to customers is approaching last year´s level. Up to and including October, 78,553 BMW motorcycles were delivered (prev.yr.: 79,394/-1.1%).

BMW Group sales in/up to and including October 2004 at a glance
In Oct. 04 comp.w. prev.yr. up to/inc. Oct.04 comp.w. prev.yr.
BMW Group Automobiles 101,899 + 8.2% 989,197 + 8.8%
BMW 86,768 + 8.9% 830,698 + 9.6%
MINI 15,060 + 4.3% 157,943 + 4.2%
Rolls-Royce 71 - 556 -
BMW motorcycles 6,371 + 10.3% 78,553 - 1.1%

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