September proved another record month for the BMW Group. Global sales of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles rose 11.6% year-on-year last month to 177,716 units – the highest September yet. Sales were also up from the 121,615 units sold in August, a record for that month itself. For the first nine months this year, global Group sales remained up 8.3% at 1,335,502 units, a record for the period.
“We made solid gains in many of our markets last month and were once again able to achieve record sales in September, despite the difficult environment in some European countries. Our models continue to perform well and we expect to see further healthy growth in worldwide sales in the fourth quarter. We are well on course to achieving a new sales record for the whole year,” commented Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW.
Global sales of the BMW brand rose 14.3% in September to 146,843 vehicles, spurred by particularly strong demand for the 1 Series (+51.1% to 23,583 units). The most dramatic growth was seen with the 6 Series, sales of which rocketed 222.6% to 2,626 units. Sales of the 3 Series grew 9.7% to 39,302 units, while 5 Series sales rose 7.9% to 29,996 vehicles. Global sales of the X1 jumped 32.9% to 16,661 units, with X3 sales up 20% at 13,616 units. For the year-to-date, BMW brand sales rose 8.6% to 1,109,962 units.
September saw new records with the Mini brand as well. Although global sales rose only a modest 0.6% last month, it was enough to set a new September high at 30,562 units. The brand’s nine-month sales also set a new record at 223,214 units, up 7.2%. The brand is poised for further growth next year with the launch of the Mini Paceman, arriving sometime in the first half of 2013.
Rolls-Royce hasn’t fared so well this year. September results were not released, but for the January-September period the brand’s sales were off 4.7% at 2,326 units. However, the brand remains optimistic that the September launch of the Phantom Series II and the traditionally strong fourth quarter could leave it in a strong position at the year’s end.
By region, the Group has avoided any major sales declines, despite the overall weakness in Europe. Group sales across Europe last month increased 4.8% to 92,442 units, with year-to-date sales up a more modest 0.8% at 639,798 units. In the home market of Germany, BMW and Mini were the only premium brands to report gains in September. BMW sales rose 9.8% to 22,009 units, while Mini sales rose 6.8% to 4,012 units. In comparison, German sales at compatriot and rival Mercedes-Benz fell 7.9% last month to 22,566 units.
Russia remains a strong growth region for the Group, with September sales jumping 48.5% to 3,985 vehicles, and year-to-date sales up 32.9% at 28,084 units.
Group sales in Asia rose 40% in September to 45,781 vehicles, with Mainland China sales up 59.4% at 29,631 units.
Sales in the Americas increased 3.9% to 34,050 units in September, with the US accounting for 26,660 of these (+3.5%). For the January-September period, BMW Group sales in the region remained up 7.1% at 234,928 units.
