BMW CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW DEALERSHIP IN SEATTLE

BMW Seattle Expands and Relocates to Better Serve Customers

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – November 5, 2009… BMW of North America marked the opening of the newly expanded 300,000-square-foot BMW Seattle dealership, nearly five times larger than the facility it replaced.  The new state-of-the-art facility, relocated to Seattle’s SoDo, or South Downtown neighborhood and nearby the International district, is at 1002 Airport Way South.
   

“The significant expansion of BMW Seattle underscores both BMW’s ongoing commitment to the U.S. market and that of our dealers,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America.  “In 2009 alone, BMW Group dealers will invest more than $340 million dollars in their franchises, benefiting communities and employing more than 30,000 people around the nation.”

 Last year, BMW Group of North America announced an investment of $1 billion to prepare for further expansion in the U.S. market, including a $750-million expansion of its BMW Manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and a $100-million expansion of the company’s New Jersey headquarters.

The new BMW Seattle facility, which replaces the previous 50,000-square-foot dealership at 714 Pike Street, features a nearly 50,000 square-foot showroom and sales center on two levels.  An adjacent 250,000 square-foot structure houses 54 service and diagnostic bays, a parts center, and vehicle storage and parking areas to accommodate more than 850 new and pre-owned vehicles.

“We have experienced tremendous growth in recent years at our BMW Seattle store,” said Sid DeBoer, chairman and CEO of Medford, Oregon-based Lithia Motors, owner of the dealership and four other BMW franchises in the U.S.  “We simply outgrew our previous location in the Capitol Hill area.  While we’re extremely proud of our reinvestment in Seattle with this new facility, the real winners will be our customers.”

Additionally, the new facility, under consideration for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification, incorporates recycled woods and materials, low-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, and energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems throughout. 

BMW Seattle has 110 employees, including several in newly created positions resulting from the expansion, and has served the community for more than 30 years.  As business expands in the years ahead the franchise expects to  increase its workforce to more than 150 employees.  For more information, visit www.bmwseattle.com

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, 87 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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Lithia Motors, Inc.

Lithia Motors, Inc., is a Fortune 700 Company, selling 27 brands of new and all brands of used vehicles in 88 stores, which are located in 13 states.  Internet sales are centralized at www.Lithia.com.  Lithia also sells used vehicles; arranges finance, warranty, and credit insurance contracts; and provides vehicle parts, maintenance, and repair services at all of its locations.

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