BMW Group Canada reports May sales results

RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 1 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported retail sales of 2,863 units in May, down 11 per cent versus the same period last year. Pre-owned sales for both the BMW and MINI brands were up, while the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle and 5 Series sedan also enjoyed robust sales.

BMW Brand: X3 and 5 Series lead sales results.

The BMW brand recorded monthly sales of 2,361 units, down 12 per cent compared to May, 2009. The X3 and 5 Series were the sales leaders. With 410 units sold, BMW X3 sales were up 64 per cent compared to the previous May, and 5 Series sales secured an increase of 19 per cent compared to the previous May with 130 units sold.

BMW Pre-owned continues momentum in May.

BMW pre-owned reported 1,084 retails in May, an increase of nearly 13 per cent compared to May, 2009. Year-to-date BMW pre-owned retails have increased 10.7 per cent over the same period last year. BMW Certified Series accounted for 820 of the BMW pre-owned sales in May.

MINI Brand May sales.

MINI reported 502 units sold in the month of May, representing a decrease of three per cent.

MINI Pre-owned sets all time record.

MINI's pre-owned monthly sales of 143 units sets a new all-time record, representing an increase of 120 per cent compared to May 2009. Of these 143 sales, 90 units were MINI NEXT pre-owned vehicles. Year-to-date MINI pre-owned sales increased nearly 66 per cent over 2009.

BMW Motorrad.

BMW Motorrad Canada reported 300 retails in May, reflecting a decrease of 10.5 per cent over the same period in 2009. BMW Motorrad year-to-date retails of 950 units represent an increase of 2.4% over last year.

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 approximately 1.29 million automobiles and over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year. The pre-tax profit for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the company employed a global workforce of approximately 96,000 associates.

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 Richmond Hill, 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 26 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

For further information: Barb Pitblado, Director, Corporate Communications, BMW Group Canada, Office - [phone], Cell - [phone], [email protected]