BMW group Jaunary 09 sales drop but SAV and CPO sales up

[LeMansX5]

BMW Group sales in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) down by 15.5 percent in January 2009.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported January sales of 14,314 vehicles, a decrease of 15.5 percent over the 16,935 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008.

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 15.5 percent in January for a total of 12,232 compared to 14,475 reported in the same month a year ago.

"We're in a definite 'toughing it out' mode and this has aided improving our market share this month," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "It's meant focusing on the real basics of making sales and we've demonstrated this with our Certified Pre-Owned program continuing to be embraced as a good alternative by our dealers and consumers in the current climate and now we hope to add the momentum of the new 7 Series and Z4 coming out this spring."

BMW Automobile Sales

BMW's automobile sales are down 21.3 percent in January to 8,697 versus 11,053 in the same month of 2008.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales

Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles increased 3.3 percent in January to 3,535 vehicles over the 3,422 sold in the same month a year ago.

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported sales of 2,082 automobiles, down 15.4 percent from the 2,460 cars sold in January 2008.

"Consumers really are keeping their heads inside their shells this month," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "Showroom traffic is down but our internet vehicle configuration and early dealer website contact is above last year at this time, so we may be seeing early signs of stimulus expectation. Considering this, being 15 percent down was not a roaring start to the year but one we'll take as it still keeps us ahead of overall market momentum."


BMW Certified Pre-Owned

Sales of BMW's Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are up 36.8 percent, to 10,007 CPO vehicles versus 7,313 vehicles reported last January making it a record month.