December 2008 Sales: BMW Group

[VenSeattle]

BMW Group U.S. Division Reports December Sales

Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/

Link to Press Release

In December, BMW Group sales in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) down by 35.9 percent. Company continued to gain market share in 2008.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported December sales of 21,626 vehicles, a decrease of 35.9 percent over the 33,761 vehicles sold in December 2007. The BMW Group also reported a 2008 sales volume of 303,190 vehicles, down 9.7 percent, compared to 335,840 vehicles in 2007.

Commenting on the 2008 result, Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC said:

"Low consumer confidence and tight credit was a double whammy in '08 making it a year we'd all like to forget. One bright spot for us was a December of reasonable sales and gaining share in the premium market for the full year. This is a foundation for our 2009 plan of keeping high value leasing and retail financing and introducing 10 new or significantly refined vehicles in the next 24 months that showcase our classic dynamic values and impressive technology that contributes to our class leading efficiency. This will help manage our way through the immediate turmoil but we'll have an equal focus on doing more of the right things that set us up for the market's return."

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 40.2 percent in December for a total of 18,060 compared to 30,199 reported in the same month a year ago. In 2008, BMW brand sales were down 15.2 percent, to 249,113 vehicles compared to 293,795 vehicles sold in 2007.

BMW Automobile Sales

BMW's automobile sales are down 40.2 percent in December to 13,796 versus 23,064 in the same month a year ago. In 2008, sales decreased by 15.4 percent, to 195,085 automobiles compared to 230,535 in 2007.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales

Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased by 40.2 percent in December to 4,264 vehicles over the 7,135 sold last December. In 2008, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 14.6 percent, to 54,028 vehicles compared to the 63,260 sold in 2007.

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported December sales of 3,566 automobiles, up 0.1 percent from the 3,562 cars sold in December 2007. In 2008, the division reported sales of 54,077 automobiles, an increase of 28.6 percent, compared to the 42,045 cars reported in 2007.

"Fuel efficiency and small cars had a big year in 2008 even with low fuel prices slowing down the positive sales development in the past few months," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "A balance of rational and emotional reasons are going to be the way of the future to continue small car growth in the U.S. MINI's success in 2008 may be a good indication of this balance."

BMW Certified Pre-Owned

Sales of BMW's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles are up 23.4 percent, to 11,719 CPO vehicles versus 9,496 vehicles reported last December. In 2008, CPO sales are up 16.4 percent, to 104,500 over the 89,795 reported in 2007.

BMW Group in America

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 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.

    Sales BMW of North America, LLC, December 2008

                     Dec. 08   Dec. 07     %   YTD Dec. 08 YTD Dec. 07   %

    1 Series             921         0     N/A     12,018         0     N/A
    3 Series           8,490    12,941   -34.4%   112,464   142,490   -21.1%
    Z4 Roadster and
     Coupe                81     1,029   -92.1%     5,879    10,097   -41.8%
    5 Series           3,699     6,687   -44.7%    45,915    54,142   -15.2%
    6 Series             568       901   -37.0%     6,533     9,033   -27.7%
    7 Series              37     1,506   -97.5%    12,276    14,773   -16.9%
    BMW passenger
     cars             13,796    23,064   -40.2%   195,085   230,535   -15.4%
    --------------    ------    ------   -----    -------   -------   -----
    X3                   960     2,194   -56.2%    17,622    28,058   -37.2%
    X5                 2,872     4,941   -41.9%    31,858    35,202    -9.5%
    X6                   432         0     N/A      4,548         0     N/A
    BMW light trucks
     (SAVs)            4,264     7,135   -40.2%    54,028    63,260   -14.6%
    --------------     -----     -----   -----     ------    ------   -----
    BMW brand         18,060    30,199   -40.2%   249,113   293,795   -15.2%
    ---------         ------    ------   -----    -------   -------   -----
    Cooper /
     S Hardtop         2,518     3,035   -17.0%    36,916    34,247     7.8%
    Cooper /
     S Convertible        78       527   -85.2%     4,880     7,798   -37.4%
    Cooper /
     S Clubman           970         0     N/A     12,281         0     N/A
    MINI brand         3,566     3,562     0.1%    54,077    42,045    28.6%
    ---------         ------    ------   -----    -------   -------   -----
    TOTAL BMW of
     North America,
      LLC             21,626    33,761   -35.9%   303,190   335,840    -9.7%
    ---------         ------    ------   -----    -------   -------   -----

[Lamar]

Let's see... model turnovers for the 7 and Z4.

Beyond that, just pain.