- BMW Group sales reach the last year's high level again, with 1.2 million
   vehicles sold
- Record sales for the BMW brand, with 750,000 vehicles sold
- Record sales for the Land Rover brand, with around 178,000 vehicles sold
- Record sales in Germany and the USA
- World premieres for the BMW 3 Series Cabrio and the BMW X5 3.0i

Detroit/Munich - Deliveries to customers of BMW, Land Rover, Rover, MG and Mini produced by the BMW Group has again reached last year's high level of 1.2 million. Dr. Henrich Heitmann, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing, of the BMW Group commented: "The outstanding market success of the BMW and Land Rover brands made this result possible. Rover sales started its trend reversal in the last quarter of 1999."

Deliveries of BMW vehicles reached new record levels of around 751,300 vehicles, outstripping the previous year's level by around 7%. For the first time, BMW sold more than half a million (505,000 units) 3 Series automobiles, 17% up on the previous year. Sales of the 5 Series, at 201,400 (-9%) continued to be better than expected. The number of 7 Series automobiles supplied continued to be high - in the sixth year of its lifecycle - with 43,000 cars being sold (- 9%).

A new sales record was also achieved by BMW Motorcycles, with around 65,200 units sold (+ 8%). This was partly due to the very successful R 1100 GS (enduro), R 1100 RT (tourer) and R 1100 S models, but the new luxury tourer K 1200 LT and the Enduro R 1150 GS, launched in the autumn, also played an important part.

At the Detroit Motor Show, the elegant 3 Series cabrio - the fourth variant in the new 3 Series - will be celebrating its world premiere. It will be launched on the market in April 2000 as the 323Ci with a 125kW/170 HP six-cylinder in-line engine and with safety belts integrated into the front seats. The second débutante is the X5 3.0i. In addition to the 4.4i V8 engine, this Sports Activity Vehicle also offers a completely revamped six-cylinder in-line engine with a capacity of 3 litres and 170 kW/231 HP (European variant).

The Rover, MG and Mini brands reached total sales of 251,200 cars (1998: 334,242 units). In the fourth quarter, sales of Rover cars increased over the previous year's level, with the trend reversal being initiated by new models. "The new Face of Rover" was shown in the autumn, with the presentation of the completely redesigned Rover 25 and 45 models. Both models round off the product program begun with the new Rover 75.

Sales of the Land Rover rose by 16% to around 178,000 - a healthy increase due primarily to the successful New Discovery and Freelander models. Deliveries to customers of the Land Rover brand have doubled since 1994.

In Germany, with sales of 282,700 vehicles (1998: 280,092) for all its brands, the BMW Group recorded an all-time high in 1999. More than 240,000 BMW automobiles entered Germany's roads last year - once again increasing sales compared to the previous year. At 42,600 units, the BMW Group sold the most Rover, Land Rover, MG and Mini vehicles outside the UK in a single market.

A new record was also established in the USA: The BMW Group increased deliveries to customers there by 21% to around 184,350 vehicles (1998: 152,981). 154,970 BMW brand vehicles (1998: 131,559) were sold last year. This increase of about 18% has taken sales to almost three times the 1991 level. All model series have contributed to this growth accordingly. The USA remains by far the most important market for the BMW 7 Series saloon.

Deliveries of Land Rover vehicles in the USA rose sharply by 37% to 29,380 units (1998: 21,422 units). The Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover achieved new records.

For the first time in the history of the American subsidiary, BMW of North America, more than 10,000 BMW motorcycles were delivered to customers - an increase of 28%. The K 1200 LT luxury tourer, launched in the spring, is already the highest selling BMW model there and has been voted "Motorcycle of the Year". For the third year in a row, the R 1100 RT is being used as a police motorcycle by the California Highway Patrol, the largest public authority customer in the USA. Around 60 different authorities have followed their example.

The BMW Group's sales in Canada have risen by around 17% to reach 10,000 vehicles for the first time (1998: 8,733). The BMW brand recorded an increase of 17% to 9,011 cars (1998: 7,701) and Land Rover an increase of 17% to around 1,210 vehicles (1998: 1,032).

(Jan. 10, 2000)

see also: Automotive Intelligence Special NAIAS 2000
.