Despite facing strong headwinds in the US, the BMW Group still managed to post its best ever six-month figures in the first half of 2016. The second quarter of the year also proved to be better than expected, with BMW posting an increase in sales of 5.7 percent to 605,534 units (2015: 573,079 units), thereby marking a new high for a quarter. This result allowed the Bavarians to keep their title as the world’s leading premium manufacturer.
Over the course of the first half of 2016 BMW managed to sell 1.16 million cars through its three sub-brands. This accounts for a rise in sales of 5.8 percent compared to the same period of 2015 and a further increase in profits. As far as BMW brand vehicles go, the sales increase was of 5.8 percent during the first half of the year, adding up to a total of 986,557 units, an absolute all-time high for the Bavarian brand. The new 7 Series and the X models were the MVPs, with the former selling 31.7 percent more than during the same period of last year.
Furthermore, the X1 also showed great potential sales during the six-month period jumping by 61.7% to 94,156 units. The 2 Series range was also extremely successful, with an increase in deliveries of 52.4% and a grand total of 97,949 units.
Thanks to the expanded range of electrified models, sales of hybrids and electric cars – in the first six months of the year – were just under 87% higher than the same period last year with a total of 23,675 being delivered to customers worldwide. Furthermore, to the end of July 2016, over 7,000 orders had been received for the new BMW i3 model with significantly extended battery range, which only celebrated its market launch in July. This is more than three times the figure of orders received for the first generation BMW i3 at the equivalent launch period.
“We are growing profitably while simultaneously implementing our strategy step by step,” stated Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “Sustainable profitability on this scale provides us with the financial headroom we need to pursue our work on future technologies such as electric mobility and automated driving. For me, there is no “either/or” between the present and the future. The strength of today’s core business is the cornerstone for tomorrow’s success.”
