BMW COMMENCES BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN IRAQ

BMW Group Middle East
Corporate Communications

Media Information
13 January 2011

BMW COMMENCES BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
New car showroom and after sales facilities set up

Erbil - BMW Group has expanded its Middle East importer network by announcing the appointment of Al Uroush Automotive as the official dealer of BMW cars in Iraq.
Al Uroush Automotive is a registered Iraqi Company owned by Al-Bunnia Group and Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company, the authorized importer for BMW in Kuwait – the two groups have been working in association with the BMW brand in Iraq since 1988.
With years of experience in the Iraqi automotive industry and a well established and respected reputation, Al Uroush Automotive Trading has strong credentials to take BMW to new heights in the country.
Situated in Erbil, the new facility has been built to BMW's premium international standards and comprises a showroom for new car sales and workshop areas to cover all car maintenance and after sales requirements. Operated by trained personnel and technicians who have attended intensive training courses to ensure that they meet the high expectations of BMW customers, the after sales area will include six work bays and the latest BMW computerised service and diagnostic equipment.

The sales facility will offer a range of the latest models; including the BMW 3-, 5- and 7-Series; the BMW Z4 as well as the entire Sports Activity Vehicle model range.

Commenting on the new business partnership, Phil Horton, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East added: "The Iraqi people have an appetite for luxury brands and the market shows strong growth potential, so we feel confident that our entry into this new market will help strengthen our strong brand presence in the Middle East region."

BMW sales across the Middle East in 2010 increased 18% over the same period last year.   Across 12 Middle East markets, 17,119 BMW and MINI vehicles were sold, signaling the underlying strength of the BMW Group in the region.

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The BMW Group
With its three brands - BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce – the BMW Group is one of the world’s most successful premium manufacturers of cars and motorcycles. It operates internationally with 24 production sites in 13 countries and a global sales network with representation in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2009, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.29 million cars and more than 87,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 96,000 employees.

Long-term thinking and responsible action have long been the foundation of the BMW Group’s success. Striving for ecological and social sustainability along the entire value-added chain, taking full responsibility for our products and giving an unequivocal commitment to preserving resources are prime objectives firmly embedded in our corporate strategies. For these reasons, the BMW Group has been sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the last five years.

For further information, please contact:

Leanne Blanckenberg, Corporate Communications Manager, BMW Group Middle East
Email: Leanne.blanckenberg@bmw.com
Tel: +9714 313 2615