Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing, commented: 'February was another record month for the BMW Group and we intend to continue the positive development. We aim to exceed our 2011 record sales in 2012 and to maintain our position as the number one premium car company worldwide'. 

Robertson continued: 'The new BMW 3 Series, which was launched worldwide in mid-February, will play an important role in driving further growth for the BMW Group. It has had an excellent start, with incoming orders exceeding our expectations. Additional new models such as the luxurious BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, which we unveiled at the Geneva Auto Salon, will also provide for further impetus in the second half of the year.'

A total of 107,359 BMW brand vehicles were sold worldwide in February, an increase of +12.5% (prev. yr. 95,427). Year-to-date, sales are +9.3% higher at 203,545 vehicles than for the same period last year (prev. yr. 186,285). There was particularly strong demand for all BMW X models last month: BMW X1, 9,059 (prev. yr. 7,531/+20.3%); BMW X3, 11,053 (prev. yr. 7,393/+49.5%); BMW X5, 8,194 (prev. yr. 7,022/+16.7%); BMW X6, 3,414 (prev. yr. 2,533/+34.8%). Demand for the BMW 6 Series was also strong last month, with sales surging +500.9% to 1,298 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 216). 

Since its introduction last year, the BMW 6 Series has consistently performed well and has now topped sales of 10,000 cars. The BMW flagship 7 Series continues to report gains, with 5,294 vehicles sold last month, an increase of +11.4% over the previous year (prev. yr. 4,754). The BMW 1 Series 5-door continued its positive development, with sales increasing +41.1% to 12,950 vehicles in February (prev. yr. 9,176).

The MINI brand reported another excellent month, with 20,020 MINI cars delivered worldwide, an increase of +24.8% over February 2011 (prev. yr. 16,045). 35,788 MINI cars have been sold year-to-date, an increase of +18.6% compared with the first two months of 2011 (prev. yr. 30,170). The MINI Countryman contributed to over one third of MINI’s sales in the first two months with retail climbing to 12,388 cars, an increase of +61.2% compared to the same period last year (prev. yr. 7,687).

Ian Robertson added: 'The success of the MINI Countryman is testimony to MINI’s ability to venture into new segments. We are thrilled to announce that the MINI Clubvan, which we unveiled yesterday at the Geneva Auto Salon, will become a new member of the family in the second half of 2012.'

BMW Group retail volumes rose on all continents and in virtually all markets in February. In Europe sales remained stable and grew +0.1% to 57,434 units (prev. yr. 57,386). Asia accounted for 34,701 units (prev. yr. 25,722) and climbed +34.9% while sales in the Americas were up +25.9% to reach 31,025 vehicles (prev. yr. 24,640) in February. In the U.S., sales climbed +31.5% to 26,184 units in the month under review (prev. yr. 19,919). The dynamic growth continued in China, with a total of 22,916 (prev. yr. 16,511) vehicles sold there last month – an increase of +38.8%. Other Asian markets, such as Japan with 4,183 units (prev. yr. 3,092/+35.3%) and South Korea with 2,370 units (prev. yr. 1,797/+31.9%), also reported robust growth. In Germany, new registrations of BMW Group vehicles remained around last year’s level at 18,219 vehicles (prev. yr. 18,880). Strong gains were reported in February from important emerging markets such as Russia where retail volumes increased +61.1% to 2,548 units (prev. yr. 1,582). Sales in India rose +18.7% to 736 deliveries (prev. yr. 620).