BMW EARNS "TOP SAFETY PICK" AWARDS FOR 3 SERIES SEDAN, X5, AND X3 IN IIHS RANKING OF 2009 MODELS

Vehicles Bestowed Highest Rating of "Good" for Frontal Offset,
Side Impact and Rear Crash Protection Performance Woodcliff Lake, NJ -
November 25, 2008... BMW of North America today announced that the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2009 BMW
3 Series Sedan, X5, and X3 models the top rating of "Good" in
each of its series of crash tests, earning each vehicle the Institute's
coveted Top Safety Pick Award. Receiving the Top Safety Pick for the
2009 BMW 3 Series Sedan, X5, and X3 vehicles is one of numerous awards
BMW has earned from the IIHS over the years. In fact, as a result of
IIHS crash tests in 2000, the 2001 BMW X5 earned the unique distinction
of not only being the best SUV, but also being the safest vehicle ever
tested by IIHS up to that point. "BMW continues to be committed to
both our active and passive safety technologies, and we are pleased to
receive the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick
award for the 2009 BMW 3 Series Sedan, X5, and X3," said Jim
O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. The Institute
rates vehicles "Good," "Acceptable,"
"Marginal" or "Poor" based on performance in
high-speed Frontal Offset and Side Impact crash tests as well as an
evaluation of the vehicle's Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraints, which
protect against neck injuries in rear impact crashes. In order for a
vehicle to become a Top Safety Pick, it must earn "Good"
ratings in all three Institute tests. Additionally, as of 2007,
winning vehicles must also offer Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - a
standard feature on all BMW vehicles, known as Dynamic Stability
Control. The IIHS requires this feature based on Institute research
indicating that ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the
risk of fatal single vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain
control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers. BMW Group In
America BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States
since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles
in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include
marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand
of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the
Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design
firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various
other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in
South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and
is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports
Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales
organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW
passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW
motorcycle retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce
Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales
headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Information about BMW Group products is
available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com www.bmwmotorcycles.com www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com # # # Journalist note:
Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to
journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address:
www.press.bmwgroup.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available
via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com. # # #