BMW Group shows 9.8% increase in sales up to and including May

568,000 automobiles already sold over the year Deliveries of the BMW
brand rise by 13.3% Munich. In the first five months of 2006, BMW Group
sales rose by 9.8% compared with the same period last year to reach
567,903 automobiles (prev.yr.: 517,249). The company recorded the
highest growth rate in percentage terms in the Chinese markets: Here,
sales rose by 66.1% to 17,951 automobiles (prev.yr.: 10,810). The
product mix continues to be of a high quality. China, for example,
continues to be the second-largest market for the BMW 7 series. In the
period to the end of May, 3,620 units of this car, the flagship of the
BMW brand, were delivered in China (prev.yr.: 998/+263%). The BMW Group
has also grown very dynamically in the European markets this year. In
Italy, the increase in the months to May was 16.9%. 43,081 automobiles
were delivered to customers here this year (prev.yr.: 36,862). In
Spain, the number of sales rose by 15.1% to 26,142 automobiles
(prev.yr.: 22,713). Belgium actually recorded a 30.6% increase to
15,929 automobiles leaving the dealerships (prev.yr.: 12,197). In May
2006, the number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars delivered to
customers rose by 5.5% to 119,972 (prev.yr.: 113,688). The reason for
the less strong growth rate in comparison with the year to date figures
for the BMW brand is essentially the high base effect from the previous
year - in March last year, the new generation of the BMW brand
best-seller, the 3 Series Sedan, was launched in the market.
Availability of the MINI brand remains limited because of the
investments in the expansion of the Oxford plant. Sales of the BMW
brand rose by 13.3% year to date to reach 485,450 automobiles
(prev.yr.: 428,537). The main growth drivers are still the BMW core
models - the 7 Series, 5 Series and 3 Series. The strongest increase
was recorded for the BMW 7 Series. The number of units delivered rose
by 40.4% to 20,938 automobiles (prev.yr.: 14,917). For the 3 Series,
sales rose by 38.8% or 55,822 vehicles to 207,469 units (prev.yr.:
151,647). The 5 Series posted sales of 96,404 vehicles. This is an
increase of 4.3% over the same period in the previous year (92,441).
Because of last year's high level, as already mentioned, the increase on
a month-on-month basis, at 6.7%, is below the level of the increase for
the period ending May. In total, in May, 102,515 BMW brand vehicles
were delivered (prev.yr.: 96,108). Because of the building work to
expand the capacity of the Oxford plant, the number of MINI available
is less than the level of demand. For this reason, MINI deliveries for
the year to May were also below the previous year's level (88,476) at
82,239 (-7.0%). In May 2006, 17,401 MINI were sold (prev.yr.:
17,536/-0.7%). Rolls-Royce delivered 214 Phantoms in the year to May
(prev.yr.: 236/-9.3%). Sales in May, at 56 cars sold, were up 3.7%
compared to May 2005 (54 units). Motorcycle segment showed a clear
increase of 12.8% in May In the motorcycle segment, the growth impulses
from the product offensive had a positive effect on sales. For the year
to May, sales reached 43,635 motorcycles (prev.yr.: 45,640) which is
still 4.4% below the previous year. In May this year, the number of
motorcycles delivered rose clearly by 12.8% to 12,421 units (prev.yr.:
11,012). BMW Group sales in/up to & incl. May 2006 at a glance In
May 06 comp.w. prev.yr. Up to & incl. May 06 Comp.w. prev.yr. BMW
Group Automobiles 119,972 + 5.5% 567,903 + 9.8% BMW 102,515 + 6.7%
485,450 + 13.3% MINI 17,401 - 0.7% 82,239 - 7.0% Rolls-Royce 56 +
3.7% 214 - 9.3% BMW Motorcycles 12,421 + 12.8% 43,635 - 4.4% If
you have any queries, please contact: Michael Rebstock, Business
Communications Telephone: +49 89 382-20470, fax: +49 89 382-24418 Marc
Hassinger, Business and Finance Communications Telephone: +49 89
382-23362, fax: +49 89 382-24418 Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com