JANUARY SALES - WORLDWIDE - BMW - all brands shows growth, around the globe.

• 142,154 vehicles delivered to customers, increase of 7.0%
• Robertson: Further growth in 2015 anticipated
• Schwarzenbauer: MINI will build on momentum in 2015

Following on from a record-breaking 2014, where the BMW Group delivered more than two million vehicles, 2015 has got off to a good start with sales up 7.0% compared with the same month last year. A total of 142,154 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were delivered to customers in January, a new high for the month (prev. yr. 132,906).

“This is a positive start, building on the success of last year,” said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW. “Looking ahead, we are aiming for further growth in 2015, despite still challenging economic conditions in some markets. There are a number of very exciting model launches coming up this year and our target is to increase global sales for a fifth successive year,” Robertson added.

BMW sales were higher than any previous January: 124,561 BMW brand vehicles were delivered to customers, 6.3% up on the same month last year (117,178). 4,247 customers took delivery of the recently launched 2 Series Active Tourer and demand for the new BMW 4 Series vehicles remains strong with a total of 8,537 delivered worldwide. The success of the BMW X family also continues. 

A total of 4,555 BMW X4s were sold in January while the BMW X5 saw significant sales growth of 40.9% compared with the same month last year (12,035 / prev. yr. 8,540). Sales of the BMW X6 showed positive growth with 2,889 delivered worldwide, 2.5% up on the previous year (2,819).

In the first month of the year, sales of the innovative BMW i vehicles totalled 1,845. Around the world, 1,416 customers took delivery of a BMW i3 while sales of the BMW i8 in January totalled 429.

Overall sales of MINI brand vehicles were also higher than ever before in January, with the brand achieving double-digit growth of 12.0% compared with the same period last year (17,373 / prev. yr. 15.510). “Following on from our core model change last year, MINI is aiming for sustainable growth in 2015,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for MINI, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce. 

“The strong sales of the new MINI 3 door and 5 door models we saw in the fourth quarter have continued into the new year and I am confident that these and other new upcoming models will see MINI building on this momentum throughout the year,” Schwarzenbauer added. Sales of the new MINI 3 door are up 33.6% on the same period last year, totalling 7,502 units (prev. yr. 5,616) and the new MINI 5 door model was delivered to a total of 3,876 customers worldwide.

Following the strategy of balanced sales across the globe, the BMW Group saw sales increase in almost all regions.

Deliveries of BMW and MINI models in Asia were up 6.6% compared with January last year (54,188 / prev. yr. 50,841) with several markets contributing to the growth. Deliveries in Mainland China increased by 7.9% (40,081 / prev. yr. 37,137) while sales in South Korea rose 16.9% (4,045 / prev. yr. 3,460).

In the Americas, a total of 27,450 BMW and MINI vehicles were delivered to customers (prev. yr. 25,977 / +5.7%). Sales in the USA totalled 22,209, an increase of 6.8% (prev. yr. 20,796). Sales in Brazil grew by a significant 18.5%, with a total of 1,139 customer deliveries (prev. yr. 961).

The positive growth seen in Europe in 2014 continues into January, with the region posting sales up 8.5% on the same month last year. A total of 55,676 new BMW and MINI vehicles were delivered to customers in the region in January (prev. yr. 51,333). Double-digit growth was recorded in a number of markets. 

Sales in Scandinavia were up 11.5% compared with January last year with a total of 3,300 vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 2,959). Similar sales growth was seen in the Netherlands, where 1,820 vehicles were sold in January (prev. yr. 1,639 / +11.0%). Positive growth was also achieved in the BMW Group’s home market in Germany, where 19,396 new BMW and MINI vehicles were registered (prev. yr. 18,760 / +3.4%).

The year has started very positively for BMW Motorrad. A total of 6,263 maxi-scooters and motorcycles were delivered to customers, a sales increase of 15.2% compared with January last year (prev. yr. 5,438).

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BMW Group sales in January 2015 at a glance

	In January 2015	Compared to previous year
BMW Group Automobiles	142,154	+7.0%
BMW	124,561	+6.3%
MINI	17,373	+12.0%
BMW Motorrad	6,263	+15.2%

JANUARY USA SALES - BMW GROUP - Bikes, MINI's and Beemers all show gains in January.

• BMW brand sales up 4.0 percent
• MINI brand sales up 26.9 percent
• BMW Motorcycle sales up 11.8 percent

Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 4.0 percent in January for a total of 18,981 compared to 18,253 vehicles sold in January, 2014.

“Coming after a record December and a record 2014 year-end result, the January numbers are a solid start for the new year and I am confident the trend will accelerate in the months ahead,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “I am especially pleased that MINI is again showing its strength as availability of its new models improves.”

In January, notable vehicles sales included the BMW 3 and 4 series which increased 13.2 percent to 7,348 vehicles, the BMW 7 series increased 10.8 percent to 637 vehicles and the BMW X5 increased 16.7 percent to 3,214 vehicles.

BMW Group Sales

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported January sales of 22,209 vehicles, an increase of 6.8 percent from the 20,796 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles

In January, sales of BMW used vehicles (including certified pre-owned) increased slightly, by 3.0 percent, to 14,564 vehicles compared to the 14,143 vehicles sold in January, 2014.

MINI Brand Sales

For January, MINI USA reports 3,228 automobiles sold, an increase of 26.9 percent from the 2,543 sold in the same month a year ago.

MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles

In January, MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned) reported sales of 1,824 automobiles, a decrease of 3.0 percent from the 1,881 sold in January, 2014.

Table 1: Vehicle Sales BMW of North America, LLC, January 2015

	Jan. 2015	Jan.  2014	%	YTD Jan. 2015	YTD Jan.  2014	%
BMW brand	18,981	18,253	4.0	18,981	18,253	4.0
BMW passenger cars	13,597	12,418	9.5	13,597	12,418	9.5
BMW light trucks	5,384	5,835	-7.7	5,384	5,835	-7.7
MINI brand	3,228	2,543	26.9	3,228	2,543	26.9
TOTAL Group	22,209	20,796	6.8	22,209	20,796	6.8

BMW Motorrad Sales

BMW Motorrad USA started the New Year with a healthy sales growth, reporting an increase of 11.8 percent in January with 661 motorcycles sold compared to the 591 sold in January 2014.

The R 1200 GS Adventure was the best performing model in the month with 126 deliveries and, boosted by the launch of the new-for-2015 R 1200 R, helped drive growth of 61% in R-Series sales with 391 total boxers sold compared to 243 a year ago.

The release of the all-new S 1000 RR also drove increased performance of S-Series models with sales up 6% with 110 units sold compared to 104 in January of 2014.

BMW Motorrad continues to find a larger customer base as a result of an expanding model range and, with 3 further new models primed for launch in the first half of the year, looks well placed to build on a promising start to 2015.

Table 2: Motorcycle Sales BMW of North America, LLC, January 2015

	January  2015	January  2014	%	YTD 2015	YTD 2014	%
BMW Motorcycles	661	591	11.8	661	591	11.8

USA - BMW at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, in January

On 12 January 2015, BMW will welcome in the new car year by unveiling a raft of new products at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

A fixture on the calendar since 1907, the event originally known as the Detroit Auto Show has a long tradition in the USA. This year will be the 27th time it has been held on an international stage, and more than 200 exhibitors will gather at the COBO Center on the Detroit River to present their latest offerings to a large audience. More than 18 million people have visited the show since 1989. The public days take place from 17 – 25 January.

Celebrating their world premieres in Detroit are the new BMW 6 Series Convertible, Coupe and Gran Coupe, as well as the new BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe high-performance models. They will be joined at the NAIAS by the cutting-edge BMW i models and innovative services encompassing the world of electric mobility. The prototype of a drive module for electric hydrogen fuel cell drive systems will be presented for the first time. And BMW ConnectedDrive will be showcasing its over-the-air regular automatic map updating technology.

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible, the new BMW 6 Series Coupe and the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe: three genuine athletes grace the luxury class.

One highlight of the BMW stand at this year’s Detroit Motor Show is the world premiere of the new BMW 6 Series model range. Through three generations, the BMW 6 Series has defined that unique blend of style and elegance with the performance and handling that one would expect of The Ultimate Driving MachineTM. For the 2016 model year the third-generation of BMW 6 Series receives a range of enhancements that refine the character that is unique to the 6 Series. Now offered in three distinct body styles – traditional two-door Coupe, open-air Convertible and unique four-door Gran Coupe – all three are again offered with a choice of BMW TwinPower Turbo engines, the 315 horsepower inline-six in the 640i models and the 445 horsepower V8 in the 650i models.

The new BMW M6 Coupe, the new BMW M6 Convertible and the new BMW M6 Gran Coupe: driving dynamics, exclusivity and efficiency from the top drawer.

Another Detroit highlight will be the world premiere of the new BMW M6 models. The BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe allow BMW M GmbH to restate its leadership in the high-performance luxury segment. The outgoing models had already set new benchmarks with the flawless balance of power, efficiency, agility, comfort and luxury that is typical of M models. And now the new BMW M6 line-up is poised to write a fresh chapter in this success story, fuelled by enhancements to a rock-solid concept. Part of the credit here goes to an extended range of standard equipment (including LED headlights and Park Distance Control), the cutting-edge tech-style interior with an enhanced iDrive Display and center console in black panel design, and the even greater scope for individualization brought about by new exterior colors, new leather shades, a full-leather trim variant with contrast stitching and attractive accents in black chrome. The unparalleled 4.4-liter V8 turbocharged engine, meanwhile, delivers a two-pronged promise of extraordinary performance and outstanding efficiency. This high-tech engine boasts innovative M TwinPower Turbo technology and develops 560 hp.

The mobility of the future: BMW i rolls out additional services to complement the BMW i3 and BMW i8.

Following the successful launch of the electric-powered BMW i3 and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, BMW i is now extending its range of services focusing on every aspect of electric mobility and rolling them out internationally. With the BMW i3 and BMW i8, BMW i offers customers not only a choice of electric vehicles, but also far-reaching complementary products to ensure the cars provide long-term service. ChargeNow, for example, is a charging and payment service which is enjoying continuous expansion. In the US, ChargeNow provides access to the nationwide network of Chargepoint charging stations. The network of DC fast charging stations in the US will continue to expand, thanks in part to the introduction of the BMW i DC fast charger, the industry’s first wall-mounted DC fast charger.

The ParkNow web and app-based service helps BMW i drivers to find a space as and when they need one while out and about. ParkNow offers car park and roadside parking spaces in hundreds of cities across North America and can filter the results of searches according to price, distance and the availability of services such as charging stations and car washes. DriveNow offers car-sharing options for more than 350,000 registered customers in the USA and Europe at the latest count, and another international rollout is now in the pipeline. And finally, “second-life” pilot projects in the US, Germany and China allow lithium-ion batteries from BMW i vehicles to be used as stationary energy storage devices after their service life on the road has come to an end.

Emission-free, usable every day: fully integrated hydrogen and fuel cell technology enable electric driving over extended distances.

The Detroit show will also see the first presentation of a drive module prototype revealing a structure for the drive and energy storage components, as well as their possible integration into a future Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). While pure battery-based electric vehicles specialize in covering mobility needs in urban metropolitan surroundings, hydrogen fuel cell drive systems offer electric mobility with a high operating range and very short refuelling times. This explains why hydrogen fuel cell technology is an integral long-term component of the BMW Group’s EfficientDynamics strategy. In order to take into account the particular requirements of this technology in cars and to utilize its potential as fully as possible, BMW is replicating its approach with its series-produced BMW i3 and BMW i8 models by focusing on a specific vehicle architecture for a future Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. The fuel cell unit of the drive module includes the first fruits of the company’s cooperation with Toyota, the industry’s leading manufacturer of fuel cell technology. This builds on Toyota’s 2015 series production technology, which BMW and Toyota were able to adapt to suit the specific requirements of BMW.

Always up to date thanks to intelligent connectivity: navigation map updates via mobile phone networks.

With regular automatic map updating for the navigation system, BMW is widening its lead as the world’s top provider of on-line-based in-car services. Updating takes place over the air (via the mobile phone network) using the vehicle’s built-in SIM card. This innovative solution, which entails no license fees or data transfer charges for customers, forms part of the new generation of the BMW Navigation System. The system updates itself regularly several times a year whenever a new regional map version becomes available. The update is installed conveniently and completely automatically. Regular updating means there is never any delay before users are able to use the latest map software, providing the basis for an impeccable navigation experience.