Best first quarter of all time for BMW Motorrad. Husqvarna Motorcycles 36.2 percent up compared to last year.

Munich . During the first three months of 2012, BMW Motorrad had its best 1st quarter to date, recording the company’s highest sales ever achieved at the start of a year. As of March, sales increased to 24,373 motorcycles (23,109 last year), this being the equivalent to a rise of 5.5 % compared to the first quarter of 2011.

In March, BMW Motorrad had delivered 12,295 motorcycles (11,675 last year) to customers worldwide, 5.3 % more than in March 2011.

Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad: “BMW Motorrad got off to an excellent start to the 2012 motorcycle season. This positive development is attributable to our attractive model range and the good market development above all in Brazil, the USA and Australia, these being countries in which, for climatic reasons, the motorcycle season starts significantly earlier than in Europe. In contrast, due to economical insecurities, markets in Southern Europe are in a difficult position. Nevertheless, if the framework conditions do not worsen, we will aspire to again exceed the record sales figures of 2011 for the whole year.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles, the BMW Group’s second motorcycle brand, recorded an increase in sales for the third month in succession. As of March, Husqvarna had sold 2,642 motorcycles (1,940 last year), an increase of 702 units or 36.2%. In March the figure was 1,182 units (676 last year), a 74.9 % increase compared to the previous year.