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

BMW celebrates two awards, one for the ever green 5-Series and one for the hybrid sports i8 supercar.

The BMW 5 Series clinched victory in the readers' vote “BEST CARS 2015” of the trade magazine “auto motor und sport” in the upper midrange segment and confirmed its achievements of the previous year. 

Five times in succession since 2011, the 5 Series was voted best business car by the readers. In addition, the “International Paul Pietsch Award” honouring particularly innovative technological developments again went to BMW. This year the prize was bestowed on the BMW i8, following the success of the BMW i3 last year. The award ceremony was held in Stuttgart.

The BMW 5 Series has been the most popular car for business purposes for many years. 

Having received 23.9 percent of all votes, the BMW 5 Series achieved first place in the readers' vote for “BEST CARS 2015” in the upper midrange segment held by “auto motor und sport”. The readers of the trade magazine have confirmed the worldwide success of the BMW 5 Series. With 373,053 units sold in 2014, the BMW 5 Series was worldwide the most successful model of its class – following its success as the most popular business car in the world in 2013. 

A comprehensive portfolio of efficient and dynamic engines, hallmark BMW driving dynamics, xDrive intelligent four-wheel drive, innovative mobility services and exclusive BMW ConnectedDrive applications as well as three different body variants all helped to make the BMW 5 Series a bestseller.

The BMW i8 receives the “International Paul Pietsch Award” due to its status as an “all-new sports car”. 

Once again, the “International Paul Pietsch Award” went to BMW. The BMW i8 was honoured for the most innovative technological concept, thereby following in the footsteps of the BMW i3, the winner of the previous year. 

The jury consisted of 28 chief editors of international trade magazines from 21 nations. With 50 percent of the overall votes, the BMW i8 emerged as the clear winner. The reasons were as follows: “The plug-in hybrid BMW, which was launched in the middle of 2014, embodies the accomplished vision of a modern and sustainable sports car for decades to come. Moreover, this model with its spectacular scissor doors and bold emotional lines opens up new paths in terms of design and aerodynamics. 

The BMW i8 is effectively driven by a downsized three-cylinder turbo petrol engine in conjunction with a powerful electric drive featuring a lithium-ion battery pack. Thanks to its carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell, the architecture provides the best possible basis for lightweight design. As a sports car of a new generation, the BMW i8 brings together in an unusual and impressing way a multitude of state-of-the art technologies and perfectly combines fuel efficiency and dynamics”.

The “BEST CARS” readers' vote held annually by the trade magazine “auto motor und sport” is one of the most important automotive awards in Germany and highly coveted amongst manufacturers. It was the 39th time the best cars were picked in 2015. On this occasion, 386 models in eleven categories were nominated. In all, 112,471 readers cast their ballot by mail or online.