Global BMW sales hit record highs

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For the first time the BMW Group has sold more than a million vehicles in the first seven months of the year.

After posting record sales in the first half of 2012, BMW reported its best sales result yet for July, with 135 537 BMW's, Minis and Rolls-Royces delivered worldwide compared to 129 102 in July 2011. It was also the first time in the company's history that over one million vehicles had been delivered in the first seven months - up 7.6 percent from 962 493 in the first seven months of 2011 to 1 036 088 this year so far.

Sales jn South Africa of BMW Group vehicles continued to grow in July with 2262 units delivered to customers - up 12.9 percent from 2003 in July 2011. In the first seven months, BMW South Africa delivered 16 613 vehicles to customers, compared to 14 978 in the same period in 2011.

Sales in Europe were 2.4 percent down, but the total for the year so far was steady at 497 932, compared to 499 749 in the first seven months of 2011. The new BMW 3 Series Touring, which accounts for two thirds of BMW 3 Series registrations in the German home market, is expected to boost European markets with its launch in September.

BMW

Worldwide sales of BMW's climbed to 113 253 units (4.2 percent better than in July 2011) bringing the totals for the year to date to 860 327, up 7.7 percent.

SA sales BMW's increased to 2,102 units (13.1 percent better than the 1858 of July 2011) and the year-to-date went up to 15 042, up 10.4 percent from the Jan-July 2011 figure of 14 978.

MINI

Mini reported its best July ever, with worldwide sales climbing 9.6 percent to 22 083 against 20 154 in July 2011. Year-to-date, Mini sales were up 7.3 percent to 173 960, compared to 162 069 in the first seven months of 2011.

Mini in South Africa delivered 160 cars to customers in the month of July (10.3 percent better more than July last year's 145) and 1571 in the first seven months of 2012 (against 1464 in 2011)

MOTORCYCLES

From January up to and including July 2012, BMW supplied 69 329 two-wheelers (3.2 percent down on the previous years 71 634), 10 140 in July, also significantly down on the previous year's 11 054.

Locally, BMW sold 217 motorcycles in the month of July (10.7 percent better than the previous year's 196) and 1 414 motorcycles (up from 1305) in the first seven months of the year.

The number of Husqvarna motorcycles supplied to dealers shot up 30.4 (from 4394 to 5729) in the first seven months of 2012 despite the number supplied in July dropping 42.8 percent from 864 to 494.

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