BMW Group Canada reports February sales records

BMW and MINI combine for 21 per cent increase in February sales.

WHITBY, ON, March 2 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported retail sales of 1,613 units in February, up 21% over the same period last year. On the year, BMW Group Canada reported sales of 2,811 units, representing a 22% increase over January 2009 sales.

BMW Brand: February sales up 19%.

The BMW brand retailed 1,420 units during the month of February, an increase of 19% over February 2009 figures. Top selling models continue to be the 3 Series followed by the X5 and X3 Sport Activity Vehicles. Year-to-date, the BMW brand reported retails are 2,461 units, also an increase of 19% over last year.

BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system continues to be extremely popular with 69% of February's a BMW retails equipped with xDrive.

BMW Pre-owned.

BMW pre-owned reported a strong February with the sale of 752 units, a 15% sales increase over the same period last year. BMW Certified Series accounted for 600 of the BMW pre-owned sales in February.

MINI Brand: February sale up 30%.

The MINI brand sales were 193 units in February, an increase of 30% over February 2009. MINI year-to-date sales total 350 units, representing a 48% increase compared to the same period last year.

MINI Pre-owned.

MINI's pre-owned monthly sales of 57 units represents an increase of 8% compared to February 2009 results. 33 of the total were MINI NEXT pre-owned MINI sales.

BMW Motorrad: Best February on record.

BMW Motorrad Canada achieved an all time February record with 70 units retailed, an increase of 46% over the same period in 2009, bringing Motorrad YTD retails to 124 units.

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 million automobiles and over 101,000 motorcycles for the 2008 financial year. Revenues for 2008 totaled 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: Rob Dexter, Specialist - Product & Technology, BMW Group Canada, Office - [phone], Cell - [phone], [email protected]