BMW Group sales in Russia reach all-time high in 2008

Ten years of continuous growth
Sales of 20,000 vehicles targeted for 2009

Munich/Moscow. The BMW Group set a new sales record in Russia last year. The
company delivered a total of 19,236 (prev.yr.: 14,686) BMW and MINI brand
vehicles to customers - an increase of around 31%. In 2008 the BMW Group sold
about 18 times as many vehicles as when the local subsidiary was founded in
1999. Over the past ten years sales have grown at a very satisfactory rate:
altogether, almost 70,000 automobiles were handed over to customers.
Russia is one of the BMW Group's most important growth markets, alongside China
and India. Despite difficult market conditions, Ian Robertson, Member of the
Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, was
optimistic about the year ahead as he attended a press conference to mark the
subsidiary's tenth anniversary in Moscow today: "We aim to keep growing the BMW
Group's retail sales in Russia. In 2009 we aim to break through the 20,000
vehicle mark for sales of the BMW and MINI brands. The BMW Group is not only
the most successful premium manufacturer in the world, but also in Russia - and
it is our clear goal to remain the number one here."

With its long-term commitment and high-quality model range, the BMW Group is in
a good position in Russia to achieve this. More than two thirds of the vehicles
sold are in the upper class and luxury segments; while sales of models in the
compact and middle class continue to grow. In 2008 growth in this segment was
driven by the BMW 1 Series, in particular, which saw sales up almost 150% on
the previous year.

The BMW Group offers its complete range of models in Russia and considerably
expands its vehicle offering in 2009. The new BMW Z4 and MINI Convertible
models, which will be in showrooms from mid-2009, are expected to have a
positive impact.
Furthermore, the BMW Group also offers vehicles that incorporate the BMW
EfficientDynamics package of features to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 in
Russia. "I am certain that our customers in Russia will also appreciate our
efforts to offer innovative and environmentally-friendly fuel-saving
technologies as standard features", said Christian Kremer, President of BMW
Group Russia.

The Russian market is unlikely to escape the global economic downturn in 2009.
"However, we believe in the Russian market's huge potential with a steadily
growing premium segment albeit at a somewhat slower pace than in the past. But
we still believe in the Russian market's huge potential, because the premium
segment will continue to grow steadily, although at a somewhat slower pace than
in the past. We are continuing to invest in the future - for instance, by
expanding our dealer network from the current 47 dealerships to 56 this year.
This will give us a presence in Russia's 33 biggest cities," stated Robertson.
The strategy of entering new markets at the right time and developing them for
the long term has also been characteristic of the BMW Group's commitment in
Russia. After operating in Russia since 1992 through an importer, BMW opened
its own subsidiary in Moscow in 1999 and has since been the only premium
manufacturer in the country to produce for the local market by using CKD
(Completely Knocked Down) production. At the Kaliningrad plant vehicles are
assembled from imported CKD kits and finished using locally produced parts. The
plant's production capacity is more than ten times what it was in 1999; 6,300
vehicles rolled off the assembly line in 2008. Last year nearly all the BMW 5
Series sold in Russia, and every other 3 Series and X3 were manufactured
locally.

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Corporate Communications

Birgit Hiller, Business Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382-39169, Fax +49 89 382-24418

Marc Hassinger, Business and Financial Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382-23362, Fax +49 89 382-24418

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com
E-mail: presse@bmw.de