BMW Group Canada records best-ever sales in 2009, retaining segment
leadership.

WHITBY, ON, Jan. 8 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada celebrates the end of 2009 with a best-ever year in BMW sales, the retention of premium segment leadership and stellar performance in pre-owned sales for the month of December.

BMW Group Canada .

BMW Group Canada rounds up the year with strong December sales. New car sales (BMW and MINI combined) in December were up 5 per cent, a total of 2,145 units sold during the month. Year-to-date sales for BMW Group Canada were up 3 per cent over last year's sales, representing total sales of 28,975 units for the BMW and MINI brands combined.

BMW Brand: Best-ever year!

BMW finished off the 2009 year with best-ever year sales, retaining its position as Canada's No.1 selling premium car brand. December BMW brand sales were 1,848 units, an increase of 6 per cent over last year's same period. Total 2009 BMW sales were 24,724 units, an increase in sales of 6 per cent over last year's sales, recording the best-ever year in sales.

MINI Brand.

In December, 297 MINIs were sold, down 1 per cent compared to December 2008 . Year-to-date, 4,251 MINIs were sold, down 13 per cent from last year's sales.

BMW Motorrad.

BMW Motorrad Canada finished the year with a total of 1,830 motorcycles sold, an increase of 4 per cent over 2008. December sales of 66 units represent a 43 per cent decrease in sales over the same period last year.

Pre-Owned: Best-ever year for BMW Pre-Owned.

BMW pre-owned sales of 777 units set a record for best-ever December sales, an increase of 47 per cent over December 2008 . Year-to-date total BMW Pre-Owned sales are up 18 per cent over the previous year with 10,645 units sold, setting the record for best-ever year sales. Of those units, 8,629 were BMW Certified Series Pre-Owned, which represents a 15 per cent increase over last year. MINI NEXT also had a strong December, selling 75 units, an increase of 92% over last year. Year-end sales were 790 units for MINI NEXT, a decrease in sales of 12 per cent.

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of more than 1.43 mil ion automobiles and over 101,000 motorcycles for the 2008 financial year. Revenues for 2008 totalled EUR 53.2 billion, with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 921 million. The company employed a global workforce of approximately 98,000 associates on 30 September 2009 .

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last five years.

BMW Group Canada , based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 19 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 25 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

For further information: Jochen Frey, Director, Corporate Communications, BMW Group Canada, Office: [phone], Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Rob Dexter, Specialist - Product & Technology, BMW Group Canada, Office - [phone], Cell - [phone], [email protected]