BMW GROUP U.S. DIVISION REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2009 SALES

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 1, 2009... For the first time this year, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported an increase in sales compared to the same month last year. In September, sales increased by 3.6 percent to 19,175 units compared to 18,506 vehicles sold in September 2008. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 179,219 vehicles, down 24.2 percent, compared to 236,327 vehicles sold in the first nine months of last year. 

BMW Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 2.1 percent in September for a total of 15,047 vehicles compared to 14,744 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago driven by strong passenger car sales. BMW’s sports activity vehicles saw a decline compared to last year in part due to limited inventory of the X5 after the better than expected Advanced Diesel X5 model sales volume. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 26.3 percent to 144,223 vehicles compared to 195,633 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.

“For now, we’ll take this first small bit of good news but the premium segment is not out of the woods yet as consumers keep on reacting cautiously to the mixed signals in the economy,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. “For BMW, we expect the bumpy road to continue into next quarter in advance of 2010, when we see consumer confidence improving and a major launch of new BMW products start to hit the market.”

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
In September, dealers continued to see good interest in pre-owned vehicles. Sales of BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles increased 4.2 percent, to 8,033 CPO vehicles versus 7,707 vehicles reported in September a year ago.  Year-to-date, CPO sales were up 9.6 percent, to 84,515 over the 77,144 reported in the same period of 2008.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 4,128 automobiles an increase of 9.7% compared to 3,762 cars reported in the same month a year ago.   Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 34,996 automobiles, a decrease of 14 percent, compared to the 40,694 cars reported in the first nine months of 2008.

“September was another unique ‘out of wack’ month as many dealers reported fewer shoppers and tire-kickers after the end of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. “MINI has been fortunate to counter this climate with higher sales compared to last September and serious buyers helping the brand to continuously increase its market share.”

Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, September 2009

Sept 2009
Sept
2008
%
YTD
2009
YTD 2008
%
BMW brand

15,047
14,744
2.1
144,223
195,633
-26.3
   BMW passenger cars

12,403
10,552
17.5
117,173
152,988
-23.4
   BMW light trucks
   (SAVs)
2,644
4,192
-36.9
27,050
42,645
-36.6
MINI brand

4,128
3,762
9.7
34,996
40,694
-14.0
TOTAL Group

19,175
18,506
3.6
179,219
236,327
-24.2

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, a strategic design consultancy 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 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, 86 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North 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.bmwusanews.com
www.press.bmw-motorsport.com

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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/us.html.  Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.
      
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