BMW Global Sales

Dani · #1 11-10-2009, 05:51 AM

BMW global sales up slightly
U.S. numbers down in October
BY JENNY MUNRO • BUSINESS WRITER • NOVEMBER 10, 2009

BMW Group's worldwide sales in October increased 2 percent over the same month a year ago, helped with strong growth in China, India and Brazil.
However, U.S. sales for October dropped 19.1 percent from the year before.
The company said Monday it delivered 115,252 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles in October, up from 113,011 last year. During the first 10 months of the year, the company has sold nearly 1.1 million vehicles.
Ian Robertson, head of sales and marketing for BMW, said the company expects record sales in China, India and Brazil in 2009.
“Our sales figures have been steadily recovering since April – and we were able to make gains in October as planned,” he said, adding solid growth is expected for the last two months of the year.
Sales were also up in the United Kingdom and Spain as well as smaller markets, including Austria, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Argentina and The Netherlands. BMW brand sales increased slightly by 0.4 percent in October, with BMW Z4 roadster sales jumping 126.2 percent to 2,079 units. The 7 Series and the 1 Series also saw strong growth.
“Over the next two years, we will be expanding or renewing more than half of our model range,” Robertson said.
Production of the next generation X3 sports activity vehicle is moving to Greer next year from Austria. The plant is nearing completion of a $750 million expansion, including a new assembly facility for the X3 and an expansion of the paint shop. Currently, the plant builds the X5 SAV and the X6 sports activity coupe. A hybrid X6 is expected by the end of the year.
Mini sales were up 11.1 percent, with the Mini convertible soaring 336.1 percent to sales of 2,172 units globally.
Rolls Royce sales continued to tumble, with 70 cars delivered – a decline of 40.7 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date, its sales are down 43.8 percent.
However, the Rolls-Royce Ghost order bank stretches into the middle of next year. The first vehicles will be delivered by the end of this year, Robertson said.

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Weasel · #2 11-10-2009, 08:57 AM

I hope they start getting sales up with al the models being renewed next year... To save money they cut back on labor paid to techs, started aith a 20% cut across the board, then started cutting back certain jobs one by one even farther than that. My paychecks are way down from where they used to be...

So if you guys see a work quality drop from dealer techs, blame BMW! We are getting paid half of what we used to for the same jobs... AND the new diagnostic equipment isn't up to par yet on top of that!

motordavid · #3 11-10-2009, 09:21 AM

Here is another version, with model data...

August BMW Group Sales Down 21%, But Best Month So
Far This Year

With 24,343 units (-21.3 percent), the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported its best sales month so far this year. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 160,044 vehicles, down 26.5 percent, compared to 217,821 vehicles sold in the first eight months of last year.

BMW Brand Sales
The BMW brand also had its best month this year with a total of 19,232 units (-24.5 percent). Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 28.6 percent to 129,176 vehicles compared to 180,889 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.
“We are happy with BMW sales this month because it shows a strengthening of the premium market,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. “On the other hand, we always knew this month would be difficult in comparison to August 2008, because it was one of our strongest months on record.”

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
Sales of BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles were slightly down 1.2 percent, to 9,342 CPO vehicles versus 9,453 vehicles reported in August a year ago. Year-to-date, CPO sales were up 10.1 percent, to 76,482 over the 69,437 reported in the same period of 2008.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 5,111 automobiles (-6.5 percent) making August MINI’s fifth best month in its U.S. history dating back to 2002. Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 30,868 automobiles, a decrease of 16.4 percent, compared to the 36,932 cars reported in the first eight months of 2008.

“Cash for Clunkers brought some new, more pragmatic customers to MINI who would probably not have considered the brand without the program,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA. “This is good and shows that for MINI, Cash for Clunkers was not just a ‘pull ahead’ of sales.”
[Source: BMW ]

On another note, the competitors were showing strong numbers as well. Audi is up 25.7% when compared to the same period a year ago, Mercedes-Benz down 7.54% and Lexus keeps close to BMW with 21.82%.

motordavid · #4 11-10-2009, 09:23 AM

Weasel, that sucks...every company on the planet is trimming here, cutting there;
somewhat surprised they would cut your labor pay.
"Book"/House rate stays the same and they pay you less?
Is this from BMW NA Mutha or your local joint?

GL,mD

chilliwilli · #5 11-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

Weasel, that sucks...every company on the planet is trimming here, cutting there;
somewhat surprised they would cut your labor pay.
"Book"/House rate stays the same and they pay you less?
Is this from BMW NA Mutha or your local joint?

GL,mD

Sorry to hear Weasel...and good point MD...if they're rolling back tech salary then a fair trade-off would be to also cut back on service labor rates. Not holding my breath. I guess that explains the ridiculous markup on parts. I've already been quite disappointed with dealer service experience of late

Weasel · #6 11-10-2009, 01:55 PM

The cut back was from BMWNA mutha, and cut back the number of "flat rate units" that made up an hours pay. We went from a 8FRU hour to a 10 FRU hour... same amount of FRUs per job, they are just "worth" 20% less now.

amacman · #7 11-10-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

I hope they start getting sales up with al the models being renewed next year... To save money they cut back on labor paid to techs, started aith a 20% cut across the board, then started cutting back certain jobs one by one even farther than that. My paychecks are way down from where they used to be...

So if you guys see a work quality drop from dealer techs, blame BMW! We are getting paid half of what we used to for the same jobs... AND the new diagnostic equipment isn't up to par yet on top of that!

NO WAY . there is NO EXCUSE for letting your standards drop . that is self defeating .
the price drop may be reflecting on the work produced by a lot of other BMW techs because I have noticed a decline in workmanship on this side of the pond .
watch the car and spares prices drop to reflect the lack of quality these days , ha ha .

Weasel · #8 11-10-2009, 08:43 PM

Now I can say that my work quality never dropped, and anyone who I apprenticed has values of good workmanship instilled in them. But it seems more and more techs nowadays coming straight out of a UTI type of tech school only care about money... But they usually don't last long as the foreman and service manager keep a close eye on them if there is any sign of slacking work quality.

But people like that work in any field, usually sales...

Meiac09 · #9 11-11-2009, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

Now I can say that my work quality never dropped, and anyone who I apprenticed has values of good workmanship instilled in them. But it seems more and more techs nowadays coming straight out of a UTI type of tech school only care about money... But they usually don't last long as the foreman and service manager keep a close eye on them if there is any sign of slacking work quality.

But people like that work in any field, usually sales...

Truth. Why I schedule my car way out and KNOW my technicians. That way they don't run into things with my car like at other dealers (AND don't shoot me back with 15 "Could not replicate" reports!

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