April 2014: BMW Group U.S.

[William Maley]

BMW Group U.S. Reports April 2014 Sales

• BMW brand sales up 8.5 percent
• MINI brand sales down 24.1 percent

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 1, 2014… The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported April sales of 29,592 vehicles, an increase of 2.0 percent from the 29,011 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) is up 2.5 percent on sales of 110,626 in the first four months of 2014 compared to 107,968 in the same period in 2013.

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 8.5 percent in April for a total of 25,202 compared to 23,225 vehicles sold in April, 2013. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 10.7 percent on sales of 97,579 compared to 88,127 sold in the first four months of 2013.

“April started and ended strong, which is not typical with spring break, holidays, and taxes due during the month,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “The increasing momentum including launch of new diesel models in the X3 and 7 Series and the first sales this month of the born-electric BMW i3 gives us considerable optimism for May and June.”

In April, best performing vehicles included the 2 Series, up 16.1 percent to 727 units; the 3/4 Series, up 18.9 percent to 9,794 units; the X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), up 85.2 percent to 3,544 units; and the X5 SAV, up 27.6 percent to 4,393 units.

MINI Brand Sales

For April, MINI USA reported 4,390 automobiles, a decrease of 24.1 percent from the 5,786 automobiles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 13,047 automobiles, a decrease of 34.2 percent from the 19,841 automobiles sold in the first four months of 2013.

[Drew Dowdell]

You know what would help mini? more model lines of the same basic car.

[Drew Dowdell]

Interesting.... with CTS+XTS Cadillac outsold BMW in the midsize lux sedan segment.

[A Horse With No Name]

You know what would help mini? more model lines of the same basic car.

Nothing will help them at this point. Their corssover ahs sup par reliability, the novelty is wearing off of the brand, and their dealer network is not what it needs to be. I see them folding within the next five or ten years in terms of North American Sales.

Interesting.... with CTS+XTS Cadillac outsold BMW in the midsize lux sedan segment.

As they should....

[smk4565]

You know what would help mini? more model lines of the same basic car.

The XTS is the size of a 7-series though. Let's see the CTS alone outsell the 5-series, then Cadillac has a claim. The 3-series is dominating the ATS and IS350 like they don't even exist. But the 7-series and 5-series are down because Mercedes is up, the E-class is way up and the S-class is outselling the 7-series, A8 and LS460 combined.

I think BMW has lost track of themselves. The 3-series isn't the car it used to be, even though it still sells strong. The 5-series has gotten too big and heavy. They are trading fun to drive for bigger sizes and electric steering and softer suspension. The current 3-series looks about the size of a 90s 5-series.

[Drew Dowdell]

No it's not. One dimension of measurement does not make them the same size.

[smk4565]

The current 3-series is taller and wider than an E34 5-series, the E34 is 3 inches longer, weight is about the same. But the E34 was a bit small to be a mid-size car. I think the E39 was the gold standard, I don't know why they keep moving away from it. In fact instead of making these pointless Gran Turismo body styles and 4-door coupes that don't look like a coupe (at least the CC and CLS look good), BMW should remake E39 Chassis cars with a modern interior.

[G. David Felt]

BMW and MB are going down the natural progression of luxury makers and will have to be rebooted at some time in the future just like Cadillac has done.

[smk4565]

MB is pretty much what they always were. Since the beginning they have been about engineering, the S, E and SL class have basically used the same formula for 40 years with success, the C-class keeps getting better. Mercedes hasn't left what they were. Cadillac did drop quality in the 70s and 80s and lost their way, BMW still puts driving dynamics first, but they are losing focus, they could still recover quickly, but they could go the wrong way also.

[A Horse With No Name]

MB is pretty much what they always were. Since the beginning they have been about engineering, the S, E and SL class have basically used the same formula for 40 years with success, the C-class keeps getting better. Mercedes hasn't left what they were. Cadillac did drop quality in the 70s and 80s and lost their way, BMW still puts driving dynamics first, but they are losing focus, they could still recover quickly, but they could go the wrong way also.

Considering right now the Germans are beating the Japanese in the Luxury car market, perhaps it is infinity and Lexus that need to reidentify and remake themselves.

[smk4565]

Agreed. Infiniti and Acura sales are weak, and at the bottom end of the luxury market, especially with Acura. Lexus relies on the RX and ES for the bulk of their volume, the IS, GS and LS aren't doing too much, and Lexus in the global market isn't making that big an impact.

[A Horse With No Name]

I find the rebirth of Cadillac worth watching though. They have some interesting prducts.

[smk4565]

I did read the next 7-series will weigh 3700 lbs due to carbon fiber usage, if they pull that off, then BMW might be back to the Ultimate Driving Machine, right now the 7-series is the bloated driving machine.

[Lamar]

I did read the next 7-series will weigh 3700 lbs due to carbon fiber usage, if they pull that off, then BMW might be back to the Ultimate Driving Machine, right now the 7-series is the bloated driving machine.

That may help -- the weight loss -- but most reports say that BMW's loss of driving feel is due to nannies and disconnected steering. Particularly in the 3-series.

[A Horse With No Name]

Really right now I find the cheaper cars to often be the better driving ones.

[smk4565]

From all the magazines I have read, they say electric power steering has killed steering feel. I haven't driven a new BMW, I have only driven the previous 2 generation 5-series that had hydraulic. Maybe BMW should not worry about the .3 mpg improvement from electric steering, and go back to the good stuff.

[Lamar]

Even though it's not in style anymore, I wonder why no one has tried to design a more efficient/lighter hydraulic system, for whatever it might be worth.

[A Horse With No Name]

The new boxster has electric PS and it is fine, as is the golf/gti, and several other cars.

[Lamar]

... and on several more cars, it's been trash.

[A Horse With No Name]

... and on several more cars, it's been trash.

And on several other cars.....they could give a rats rear end about steering feel. Pretty sure that steering feel is very low on the priority lsit for Camry and malibu owners, for example.

But your point is made, my friend.

[Drew Dowdell]

From all the magazines I have read, they say electric power steering has killed steering feel. I haven't driven a new BMW, I have only driven the previous 2 generation 5-series that had hydraulic. Maybe BMW should not worry about the .3 mpg improvement from electric steering, and go back to the good stuff.

It's packaging too. Electric power steering can be done excellently, Ford pretty much has it nailed right now.

[A Horse With No Name]

From all the magazines I have read, they say electric power steering has killed steering feel. I haven't driven a new BMW, I have only driven the previous 2 generation 5-series that had hydraulic. Maybe BMW should not worry about the .3 mpg improvement from electric steering, and go back to the good stuff.

It's packaging too. Electric power steering can be done excellently, Ford pretty much has it nailed right now.

Now if they could bring that same magic to My Ford touch, they might be in bidness....

[Lamar]

... and on several more cars, it's been trash.

And on several other cars.....they could give a rats rear end about steering feel. Pretty sure that steering feel is very low on the priority lsit for Camry and malibu owners, for example.

But your point is made, my friend.

Glad you understand. I think we agree that steering feel should never worsen in some cars, among them VW, BMW, and Porsche.

Now if they could bring that same magic to My Ford touch, they might be in bidness....

I haven't tested it since they released the newer updates. Maybe today, since I'm currently in the boonies and need to get out to some traffic lights.

Taking bets now on which system will get "fixed" first, MFT/MLT or MyLink/IntelliLink/CUE...

[G. David Felt]

Ford will think they updated their touch system but I am hoping GM on the next generation actually makes a revolutionary move for the Mylink system.