Before getting into the less attractive (and at the same time less glamorous) part of this piece, where we will talk about finance, we can tell you that BMW 5 Series GT will be here by the end of 2009, probably at about the same time as the newest addition to the X range, the X1.
"The X1 and the 5 Series Gran Turismo will come onto the markets towards the end of the year," said BMW in the release of their financial results.
As for the financial part, what BMW calls the "ongoing reluctance of consumers to spend" is one of the main reasons the German manufacturer lost 13.4 percent of its first quarter revenue, compared to the same period in 2009. This means the group's revenues stood at 11,509 million euro, with an EBIT loss of 55 million euro.
In vehicles sold terms, BMW "managed" to register a drop of 21.2 percent, to 277,264 units. Taken brand by brand, MINI fell 24.9 percent to 43,592 units (compared to the 2008 first quarter, when it sold 58,054 units), Rolls-Royce sales decreased by "only" 4.9 percent, dropping to 174 units sold. BMW hold the blame for the rest of the decrease.
As for future prospects, the company will think of 2009 as being a "year of transition". They however expect the 5 Series GT and the X1, together with veteran nameplates as the 7 Series to help increase the numbers.
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