German manufacturer BMW reported a somewhat slow July in terms of sales, as it recorded a 12.6 percent drop in units sold, from 125,792 in 2008 to 109,923 this year. Even so, the decrease was milder than the ones posted in previous months while, from January to the end of July, BMW reports 725,377, down 18.6 percent compared to the same period of 2008.
“Our sales performance again improved slightly in July – and MINI was even back on its growth path. Over the course of the next months we will see BMW Group sales continue their gradual upward trend – not least as a result of several new models. I am confident we will continue to expand our market position in the premium segment for 2009 as a whole and be able to maintain our position as leading premium manufacturer,” Ian Robertson, BMW member of the board said in a statement.
The MINI brand achieved an increase of 0.3 percent, a small but significant one, given the fact that it is the first growth since September 2008. It sold 19,281 in July, up from 19,224 last year.
The BMW brand saw a steeper decline, with a 14.9 percent drop to 90,597, despite some serious climb in volume for the 7 Series (up 57.9 percent) and the good performance of the Z4. The manufacturer hopes the arrival of the four-wheel drive seven series this fall and the launch of the X1 and 5 Series GT will improve the numbers by the end of the year.
The luxury Rolls Royce brand dropped by 55.9 percent, selling from the beginning of the year until the end of July only 374 vehicles.
“Our sales performance again improved slightly in July – and MINI was even back on its growth path. Over the course of the next months we will see BMW Group sales continue their gradual upward trend – not least as a result of several new models. I am confident we will continue to expand our market position in the premium segment for 2009 as a whole and be able to maintain our position as leading premium manufacturer,” Ian Robertson, BMW member of the board said in a statement.
The MINI brand achieved an increase of 0.3 percent, a small but significant one, given the fact that it is the first growth since September 2008. It sold 19,281 in July, up from 19,224 last year.
The BMW brand saw a steeper decline, with a 14.9 percent drop to 90,597, despite some serious climb in volume for the 7 Series (up 57.9 percent) and the good performance of the Z4. The manufacturer hopes the arrival of the four-wheel drive seven series this fall and the launch of the X1 and 5 Series GT will improve the numbers by the end of the year.
The luxury Rolls Royce brand dropped by 55.9 percent, selling from the beginning of the year until the end of July only 374 vehicles.