WORLDWIDE SALES - BMW GROUP - Over two million sales make 2014 another record year.

• Record worldwide sales: up 7.9% with a total of 2,117,965 deliveries
• Best ever year for BMW, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce
• MINI sales up 20.7% in December – a new record for the month
• Robertson: New models and balanced global growth key to success
• BMW i sales around 17,800; Krüger: BMW i8 production increased

The BMW Group delivered more than two million vehicles to customers in 2014, the company’s fourth record year in a row. A total of 2,117,965 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were sold, more than ever before in the Group’s history (prev. yr. 1,963,798 / +7.9%). 

All of the company’s brands finished the year strongly with sales in December up 15.2% - a total of 215,217 vehicles were delivered in the last month of the year (prev. yr. 186,786).

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW said, “I am delighted that we achieved our target of selling more than two million vehicles in 2014, a new record for the BMW Group. 

We have seen good growth throughout the year, well spread across all major sales regions. Our new models such as the BMW X4 and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer demonstrate our ability to develop new vehicles which attract new customers to the brand. The popularity of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 shows our game-changing ‘born electric’ strategy is on track. We are now looking forward to building on these successes in 2015.”

2014 was the best year ever for the BMW brand. Deliveries of BMW vehicles totalled 1,811,719, an increase of 9.5% on the previous year (1,655,138). Sales in December also achieved a new high, up 14.2% on the same month last year (177,954 / prev. yr. 155,835).

In its first full year on the market, the BMW 2 Series Coupé has been delivered to a total of 27,933 customers while 13,091 customers have taken delivery of the 2 Series Active Tourer during the three months it has been on sale. 

Sales of the segment-leading BMW 3 Series were up on last year, totalling 476,792 (prev. yr. 467,672 / +2.0%). Deliveries of the BMW 4 Series models totalled 119,580 in 2014. The BMW 5 Series, which also leads it segment globally, saw sales increase 1.7% this year, with a total of 373,053 delivered to customers worldwide (prev. yr. 366,992). The BMW X4, which went on sale in July, has been delivered to 21,688 customers while the new third-generation of the BMW X5 has increased sales by 37.4% compared to last year (147,381 / prev. yr. 107,231).

Around 17,800 customers have taken delivery of an innovative BMW i vehicle in 2014. Global deliveries of the BMW i3 total 16,052; nearly three-quarters of those sales occurred in the second half of the year, following the vehicle’s late-spring market launch in several major markets including the USA. The keys to a total of 1,741 BMW i8s have been handed over to customers since it went on sale in the summer.

Due to the success of the BMW i vehicles, their production continues to ramp up. Harald Krüger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production said, “Our production lines in Leipzig are highly flexible and we have switched more production to the i8 to reduce customer waiting times to a better level. Meanwhile, more than 100 BMW i3’s leave the plant each day. The BMW Group is the first automotive company to manufacture using significant quantities of carbon fibre in series production and the success of these cars speaks for itself.”

Despite the change in the core MINI model this year, annual sales remained around last year’s record level with a total of 302,183 vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 305,030 / -1.0%). Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for MINI, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce was particularly pleased with how the year ended for the brand. 

“MINI saw its best ever fourth quarter with sales up 17.2% (94,624 / prev. yr. 80,748). It was also a record December with sales increasing 20.7% compared with the same month in 2013 (36,773 / prev. yr. 30,455). Since coming fully onto the market, sales of the new third generation MINI 3-door and the brand new MINI 5-door have been very strong.” 

In December, sales of the 3-door were up 33.9% (16,418 / prev. yr. 12,262) while a total of 6,954 customers took delivery of a 5-door MINI in the last month of 2014. The MINI Countryman saw sales grow 5.0% across the year (106,995 / prev. yr. 101,897) while deliveries of the MINI Paceman totalled 15,567 in 2014, an increase of 6.0% (prev. yr. 14,687).

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced record sales results for a fifth consecutive year, with 4,063 units (prev. yr. 3,630 / +11.9%) sold globally during 2014, more than ever before in the brand’s 111-year history. Peter Schwarzenbauer said, “Rolls-Royce has seen strong sales worldwide, with double-digit increases in most regions. This exceptional growth means that deliveries have more than quadrupled since 2009.” Sales were driven by strong orders for Ghost Series II, launched in November, and Wraith, which enjoyed its first full year of sales, while the Phantom remains the company’s pinnacle product.

BMW Motorrad has achieved a fourth successive sales record, selling over 120,000 maxi-scooters and motorcycles for the first time ever, an increase of around 7%. The exact figures will be released on Monday.

The BMW Group achieved growth in all major sales regions in 2014

In Europe, a total of 913,803 BMW and MINI brand vehicles were delivered to customers (prev. yr. 858,990 / +6.4%). All European markets have experienced growth in 2014. The BMW Group’s home market, Germany, saw sales increase 1.7% across the year with 273,433 new vehicles registered (prev. yr. 268,838). Sales in the region’s second biggest market, Great Britain, grew 8.4% in 2014 (204,749 / prev. yr. 188,837) while a total of 67,449 BMW and MINI vehicles were delivered in France, an increase of 5.3% (prev. yr. 64,082).

Sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in Asia grew by 13.8% in 2014 with sales totalling 656,395 (prev. yr. 576,616). This level of sales growth was reflected in the December figures – deliveries in the last month of the year totalled 61,295 (prev. yr. 54,546 / +12.4%). The year saw sales in Mainland China grow by 16.7%, with a total of 455,979 BMW and MINI vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 390,713). Strong sales growth was also experienced in South Korea, where 46,400 customer deliveries were made, an increase of 17.3% on the previous year (39,558).

Sales growth of 3.9% was recorded at year-end in the Americas (481,056 / prev. yr. 462,891). The USA was the region’s main growth driver in 2014, annual sales there were up 5.3% to total 395,850 (prev. yr. 375,782). Canada also saw positive growth of 1.2% (38,188 / prev. yr. 37,723) while sales in Mexico increased by 6.5% compared with the previous year (14,902 / prev. yr. 13,992).

Double-digit growth was recorded in the Middle East region with a total of 30,148 BMW and MINI vehicles sold in 2014, an increase of 22.6% compared with the previous year (24,596). December sales in the region were up 30.4% with a total of 2,511 vehicles delivered to customers in the last month of the year (prev. yr. 1,926).

BMW Group sales in/up to December 2014 at a glance

	In December 2014	Comp. to previous year	Up to/incl. December 2014	Comp. to previous year
BMW Group Automobiles	215,217	+15.2%	2,117,965	+7.9%
BMW	177,954	+14.2%	1,811,719	+9.5%
MINI	36,773	+20.7%	302,183	-0.9%
Rolls-Royce	490	-1.2%	4,063	+11.9%

UK SALES - BMW GROUP - Like MINI, the parent brand has achieved new records in sales/

BMW and MINI celebrate highest ever UK sales

BMW Group in the UK achieved its best ever sales in 2014 with both BMW and MINI brands setting new UK records. In total, 202,539 BMW and MINI vehicles were registered, an increase of 8.01 per cent over 2013. The BMW brand accounted for 148,878 sales, an increase of 9.81 per cent compared to 2013 and over 13,000 vehicles more than its previous UK sales record in 2013. MINI sold 53,661 vehicles, its best annual sales performance since the vehicle’s UK launch in July 2001, representing a 3.33 per cent increase over 2013.

BMW Group achieved a market share of 8.18 per cent of the total UK car market in 2014 (BMW 6.01 per cent and MINI 2.17 per cent) bolstered by the introduction of 18 new BMW and MINI models including the newly-launched BMW 2 Series range and MINI Hatch 3 and 5-door vehicles.

“BMW Group had a tremendous year in 2014 breaking records with both its BMW and MINI brands in the UK with sales exceeding 200,000 vehicles for the first time in the company’s history. We have seen strong sales growth driven by particularly high demand for the new BMW 2 Series and 4 Series models, said Graeme Grieve, Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group UK. 

“The iconic MINI is also celebrating record sales thanks to strong performances from the new 3 and 5-door Hatch models as it continues to attract new customers in the UK. These results are testament to the strong partnership we have with our UK retailer network. BMW and MINI retailers also sold almost 84,000 Approved Used BMWs and over 30,000 Cherished MINIs last year as well as investing over £20 million in modern, customer-friendly retail facilities during 2014. Although the 2015 economic outlook remains challenging, we have a significant number of new model introductions and are looking forward to another strong year,” concluded Grieve.

BMW brand sales                                               

                                                           

In 2014, sales of BMW vehicles set a new record with the brand outperforming the market. Sales increased by 9.80 per cent to a total of 148, 878 vehicles representing 6.01 per cent of the total UK market. Demand for the BMW 2 and 4 Series ranges has been particularly strong and has accounted for over 22,000 customer deliveries. With more than 21,000 sales, the BMW 5 Series remains a key player in the corporate sector and sales of BMW i3 and i8 models have now exceeded 1,600 vehicles. BMW X Series models have made a significant contribution to the company’s sales growth. With the introduction of the X6 in 2008, X1 in 2009 and new X3, X4 and X5 models, sales of X models have risen to 24,535 in 2014 and now represent more than 16 per cent of BMW’s total UK sales.

MINI brand sales           

                                                                                         

MINI celebrated its highest ever UK sales since its launch in 2001 capturing 2.17 per cent of the market with 53,661 models sold, an increase of 3.33 per cent compared to 2013. The New MINI 3-Door Hatch, launched in March, continued to be the brand’s biggest seller. Alongside its all-new stablemate, the MINI 5-Door Hatch, more than 28,000 were sold last year (3-Door Hatch: 24,200 and 5-Door Hatch: 3,800). The introduction of the first-for-brand MINI 5-Door Hatch in October also saw a significant increase in the brand’s fleet sales which were up 17 per cent year-on-year.

BMW Group UK sales: January to December 2014:

	December 2014	December 2013	% change	Year to date 2014	Year to date 2013	% change
BMW	12,445	11,470	8.50%	148,878	135,583	9.81%
MINI	7,172	4,011	78.81%	53,661	51,933	3.33%
Total BMW Group	19,617	15,481	26.71%	202,539	187,516	8.01%

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.