BMW Group sales top 200,000 for first time in single month

Munich (ots) -

212,908 vehicles delivered in March, an increase of 11.3%
Year-to-date sales climb 8.7% to 487,024 vehicles
Q1 sales growth in all three major sales regions

The BMW Group sold 212,908 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles in
March - the company's best-ever monthly results. It's a significant
11.3% increase on the previous all-time monthly high in March last
year (191,269 units). A new high for the first quarter of the year
was also achieved with a total of 487,024 vehicles delivered in the
first three months of 2014 (prev. yr. 448,200 / +8.7%).

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and
Marketing BMW, said: "This is the first time in the company's history
that over 200,000 vehicles were delivered to customers in a single
month - March has rounded off a strong first quarter in 2014. Despite
continuing economic uncertainties, we are experiencing steady
improvement in almost all regions. Sales of our BMW X-
vehicles have been particularly strong; I'm sure the brand new BMW
X4, which celebrated start-of-production in Plant Spartanburg at the
end of March, will contribute to boosting growth still further when
it comes onto the market from July."

Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles rose 16.9% to 186,126 in
March, making it the brand's most successful month ever (prev. yr.
159,195). Sales for the first three months of the year reached
428,259, an increase of 12.3% (prev. yr. 381,406). Sales of BMW
X-vehicles were particularly strong growth drivers in the first
quarter. The BMW X1 saw double- digit growth, with 43,262 vehicles
delivered to customers in the year to end of March (prev. yr. 37,680
/ +14.8%). BMW X3 volume increased by 10.8% in the first three months
of the year (40,115 / prev. yr. 36,189) and deliveries of the new BMW
X5 rose 13.8% to 31,025 units (prev. yr. 27,274). The BMW 3 Series
was also a steady growth driver in the year-to-date with a total of
116,671 units sold (prev. yr. 109,308 / +6.7%). Sales of the BMW 5
Series also developed well in the first three months of the year,
with 91,600 vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 85,731 /
+6.8%).

Due to the current model-change - the new MINI arrived in
dealerships at the end of March - sales of MINI brand vehicles have
decreased in line with expectations during the first quarter of 2014.
Deliveries for the first three months of the year were down 12.5%
(57,868 /prev. yr. 66,156) with sales in March down 16.9% to 26,382
units (prev. yr. 31,765). The order-book for the new MINI is strong
and this is expected to be reflected in the retail figures from
summer onwards.

Rolls-Royce retains its position as the world's leading
manufacturer of super-luxury motor cars. Following a fourth
successive record year in 2013, sales in the first quarter are up
significantly year- on-year. In total, 897 Rolls-Royce motor cars
were delivered to customers across the globe (prev. yr. 642 /
+39.7%). This was driven by sustained demand for Phantom and Ghost
models and a full order- book for Wraith, the company's latest model.
The company has planned for further sustainable growth and it is
optimistic for another strong year in 2014.

BMW Motorrad achieved its best first quarter and best single month
ever. Sales increased by 16.1% in the first three months of the year,
with a total of 28,719 motorcycles and maxi-scooters delivered
worldwide (prev. yr. 24.732). In March, 15,183 vehicles were sold
(prev. yr. 13,067/ + 16.2%).

The BMW Group made gains in many markets in the first quarter with
the main three sales regions all recording an increase in sales.

Sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in Asia rose 21.8% to 158,120
(prev. yr. 129,866). Mainland China saw deliveries jump 25.4% in the
first three months of the year (107,951 / prev. yr. 86,070). A
similar increase was achieved in Japan, with 18,888 units delivered
(prev. yr. 14,990 / +26.0%) and strong growth was also recorded in
South Korea, where sales increased 19.0% (10,587 / prev. yr. 8,900)
in the first quarter.

The Americas saw an increase in BMW and MINI deliveries of 3.4% in
the first quarter (99,606 / prev. yr. 96,318). Sales in the USA grew
2.6% with a total of 81,034 vehicles delivered to customers (prev.
yr. 78,957). Customer deliveries in Brazil, where the BMW Group will
be opening a new plant later this year, jumped 50.8% in the first
three months of the year with 4,184 vehicles sold (prev. yr. 2,774).

Despite continuing headwinds in some markets, Europe also recorded
a slight growth in sales with deliveries for the first quarter up
3.3% (214,031 / prev. yr. 207,130). The BMW Group's home market,
Germany, grew 0.5% in the first quarter with 64,183 vehicle
registrations (prev. yr. 63,886). Sales in Scandinavia continued to
grow strongly with 10,810 vehicles delivered to customers in March
(prev. yr. 8,840 / +22.3%).

BMW Group sales in/up to March 2014 at a glance

|In March |Compared to |Up to/incl. |Compared to |
|2014 |previous year | March 2014 |previous year|

BMW Group |212,908 |+11.3% |487,024 |+8.7% |
Automobiles | | | | |

BMW |186,126 |+16.9% |428,259 |+12.3% |

MINI |26,382 |-16.9% |57,868 |-12.5% |

Rolls-Royce |400 |28.6% |897 |+39.7% |
Motor Cars | | | | |

BMW Motorrad |15,183 |+16.2% |28,719 |+16.1% |

The BMW Group The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of
automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and
Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28
production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2013, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.963 million cars and
115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the
financial year 2013 was E 7.91 billion on revenues amounting to
approximately E 76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group
had a workforce of 110,351 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value
chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

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If you have any queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Emma Begley, Business and Finance Communications
emma.begley@bmwgroup.com
Telephone: +49 89 382-72200, Fax: +49 89 382-24418

Nikolai Glies, Head of Business, Finance and Sustainability
Communications
nikolai.glies@bmw.de Telephone: +49 89 382-24544, Fax: +49 89
382-24418

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