DUBAI, 22 January 2006 — BMW Group Middle East’s sales zoomed to a record high in 2005 with sales touching 13,753 units, an increase of 31 percent over the previous year.
Saudi Arabia was second in terms of sales volume last year. The top three Middle East markets were the United Arab Emirates with 4,733 vehicles sold, followed by Saudi Arabia with 2,743 vehicles and Kuwait with sales of 1,500 units.
Jordan was BMW Group’s fastest growing regional market selling 34 times more vehicles in 2005 than the previous year, from 14 units to 479 units, according to senior BMW executives.
“With the yearend figures of 2005, the BMW Group is the world’s most successful supplier in the premium automobile segment. The company grew more in 2005 than the market as a whole and also more than all its relevant competitors,” said Dr. Michael Ganal, member of the board of management, BMW Ag, at a press conference in Dubai on Wednesday.
Ganal said that retail volumes have risen by more than 103,000 cars in 2005, up 10.1 percent over the previous year, and accounting for sales of 1,126,768 vehicles.
Within the region, the most popular BMW model was the 5 Series, representing 32 percent of Middle East sales, followed by the 7 Series, with 27 percent, the 3 Series, with 17 percent and the X5 with 12 percent.
“These exceptional 2005 figures consolidate BMW’s position as the region’s fastest growing luxury car manufacturer - a leadership role it has held since it first established here 11 years ago,” said Guenther Seemann, managing director, BMW Group Middle East.
With a worldwide 10 percent increase in sales for BMW Group — a record 1,327,992 units, Mini Cooper and Rolls-Royce cars delivered to customers in 2005 — the latest Middle East figures vindicate the company’s commitment to a clear-cut premium brand strategy. “With BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, we compete on the basis of authentic brands and a genuine product substance. All of our premium product excel through emotion, uncompromising engineering, innovative technology and supreme quality,” Ganal said.
The Mini Cooper was a strong performer in 2005, recording a 9-percent increase. Retail sales crossed the 200,000 mark for the first time with sales touching 200,400 vehicles. Rolls-Royce also delivered 796 cars to customers as it continues to lead the ultra-luxury segment. Rolls-Royce figures for the Middle East accounted fro 15 percent of the global sales. Ganal said, “Since 1995, we have been able to more than quadruple our retail volume in the Middle East and last year alone we increased by over a third. From Syria to Oman, from Jordan to Pakistan, this region holds huge economic potential. The Middle East region will continue to play a key role in BMW Group’s growth strategy and expansion into new markets.”
“Our vision for 2006 is to maintain our position as the Middle East’s fastest growing luxury car manufacturer through new model introductions and innovative technologies, special partnerships with like-minded companies and organizations, and new enhanced importer facilities,” said Seemann, adding that, “We will continue our successful product and market initiative in 2006 finding new opportunities to expand our offering to the region and developing emerging markets in addition to further showroom and after-sales expansion in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman.”
Ganal said, “In the Middle East region five new models will be launched to the markets this year — among them the Z4 Coupe shown as a concept car at the latest motor show in Dubai and the Z4 M Roadster.”
In 2005, BMW opened latest national sales companies in Portugal and in China in order to strengthen further market presence in both countries. In March last year BMW’s new plant in Leipzig, Germany, began operations.
“Advancing its international market strategy, the BMW Group will foster the Indian market considerably. After the formal entry into India in November last year, the establishment of a production and sales subsidiary will be realized in 2006 and beyond. Apart from sales subsidiary in the Delhi area, the company will build up an assembly plant for BMW automobiles in Chennai in southern India and expanding its dealership network to all metropolitan centers of the country,” Ganal said.
Including the Indian investments, the BMW Group will have a total of 23 production locations in 13 countries worldwide and 35 international sales subsidiaries. A network of national importers is able to serve another 120 countries.
Rana Jones, corporate communications manager, BMW Group Middle East, welcomed a group of journalists from different countries and helped as an interpreter in question-answer session during the press conference.
