BMW Group sales in first quarter 2007 above previous year

Year's target in the upper single-digit percentage range confirmed
Slight fall in March due to model changes Munich. In the first quarter
of this year, the BMW Group delivered 333,276 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce
brand automobiles. This meant that the corresponding previous year's
value (332,948) was slightly exceeded, despite significant model cycle
effects. 141,568 automobiles were delivered to customers in March. This
is 1.9% fewer than in the same month last year (144,332). Dr. Michael
Ganal, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for
Sales and Marketing: "We are expecting stronger growth impulses in
the next few months, driven not least by the sales of new models. We
therefore confirm our objective for the year as a whole - to increase
BMW Group sales by a percentage in the upper single-digit range and to
set new record values for all three brands." The sale of BMW
brand automobiles increased slightly in the first quarter of 2007 by
1.0% to 286,185 units (prev.yr.: 283,323). In March, because of the
market launch of new vehicles in major model series at the end of the
month, there was, as planned, a moderate 2.0% decline in sales to
120,077 automobiles (prev.yr.: 122,522). The delivery of the BMW 3
Series Convertible and the reworked models in the BMW 5 Series and BMW
1 Series, for example, started on 24 March. The new BMW X5 has also
been available in Europe since the end of March, after its market
launch in North America in November last year. Sales of MINI, at
46,978 units delivered in the first quarter of 2007, were 5.1% below
the previous year's level (49,518). The new MINI has been available in
all the major markets worldwide since March. In a month-on-month
comparison, sales in March 2007 almost reached last year's level. The
number of MINI sold reached 21,441 vehicles, which is 1.5% below last
year (21,763). The increasing availability of the new MINI and the
addition of the new MINI Cooper D and the new MINI One to the model
range this month will increase sales clearly for MINI too over the next
few months. The market launch of the new MINI Clubman is also planned
for this year. As with the BMW and MINI brands, the product offensive
is also continuing for Rolls-Royce. An additional open-top variant, the
Phantom Drophead Coupé, will extend the Rolls-Royce product
range this summer. In the first quarter of this year alone, sales of
Rolls-Royce rose by 5.6% to 113 automobiles delivered (prev.yr.: 107).
In the month of March, 50 Rolls-Royce Phantoms were handed over to
customers (prev.yr.: 47/+6.4%). The high level of interest in the new
convertible in particular indicates that this satisfactory development
is set to continue. Motorcycles segment increases by 28% in March The
motorcycles segment reached 23,029 units delivered to customers in the
first quarter, which is 20.9% above the previous year (19,051). The
growth rate is even higher when compared with the same month last year,
at 28.2%. 12,029 BMW motorcycles were handed over to customers in March
2007 (prev.yr.: 9,725). BMW Group sales in/up to & incl. March
2007 at a glance In Mar. 07 comp. w. prev.yr. Up to & incl. Mar. 07
comp.w. prev.yr. BMW Group Automobiles 141,568 - 1.9% 333,276 + 0.1% BMW
120,077 - 2.0% 286,185 + 1.0% MINI 21,441 -1.5% 46,978 - 5.1%
Rolls-Royce 50 + 6.4% 113 + 5.6% BMW Motorcycles 12,466 + 28.2% 23,029 + 20.9%