BMW Group Middle East First Four Months Sales Up 17%

BMW Group Middle East has achieved double-digit growth in the first four
months of 2006 with deliveries to customers in the region up by 17%
year on year. Retail sales of BMW Group vehicles were 4,630 units in
the period January to April with the BMW 5 series, 7 series and 3
series the most popular models. The UAE and Saudi Arabian markets drove
the excellent sales growth. AGMC, in the UAE, was the highest volume
dealer in the region with 1,000 units sold compared to 830 units sold
in the same period last year, followed by Saudi Arabia with 946 units
sold with 16% growth than the previous year. Abu Dhabi Motors also
achieved excellent growth with sales rising by 25% to 665 units.
Pakistan is the fastest growing market in this region, with sales
accelerating ahead by 155%, compared to the same period in 2005. In
the Gulf Cooperation Council region, Oman witnessed the highest growth
in sales, delivering 67% more vehicles than the first four months of
2005, followed by Qatar, 56% up. BMW 7 series saw the highest growth of
any BMW vehicle, withy a 70% increase on the first four months of 2005.
BMW Group Middle East sold 25% more BMW 5 Series and 9% more BMW 6
Series during the first four months of 2006 than during the first
quarter of 2005. "BMW Group Middle East promised double digit
growth in 2006 and the excellent sales results for the first four
months of this year show that we are keeping that promise," said
Guenther Seemann, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East. "BMW
Group Middle East is seeing continuous growth in the region; nearly all
markets in the Middle East have achieved higher results in the first
four months of 2006. The outlook for 2006 is promising; we have the
right partners in place who are constantly developing and investing
heavily in the business to provide customers with the ultimate driving
experience. "There is a strong demand for premium products and
premium services in the Middle East, and as a result the region's
premium car segment is growing much faster than anywhere else in the
world. So, we see a very bright future ahead for the remainder of
2006." concluded Seemann. BMW Group Middle East and the importer
network are making substantial investments in the region during 2006.
Five new models and many new engine variants will be introduced during
2006, including the highly anticipated Z4 Coupe, Z4 M Coupe and the 3
Series Coupe. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi Motors will begin the multi-million
dollar expansion of the UMM Al Nar showroom and aftersales facility.
AGMC will also embark on the expansion of their existing showroom,
doubling its size. In Saudi Arabia, US$ 10million is being invested in
a brand new, state-of-the-art aftersales facility, and in Oman new
sales and aftersales facilities will be built in Salalah, Buraimi and
Sohar. Internationally, BMW Group sales increased considerably in the
first three months of 2006. The number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce
vehicles sold rose by 11% to 447,819 units, setting the company on
course for another record-breaking year.