The good news for BMW shareholders is that the BMW Group sold more vehicles worldwide in July 2017 than any previous July. The company also set a new record for sales in the first seven months of a year. BMW also noted that it had delivered its 50,000th electrified vehicle in July, and is more than halfway to its 2017 goal of 100,000 electrified vehicles sold. Even better news is that profits for the year so far are also up.
The year-to-date figure of 1,401,551 units sold reflects a 4.3 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Likewise, the 180,726 BMWs, Minis, and Rolls-Royces that went out the door in July represent a 0.4 percent bump from July 2016. Those good numbers are despite a continuing slump in the U.S. market, in which July sales were down 14.8 percent in July and 4.6 percent for the first seven months of 2017.
“Following a record first half-year, our sales in July remain at a very high level, with profitability our primary focus,” said Dr. Ian Robertson, BMW AG Board of Management member for Sales and Brand BMW. “Despite continuing headwinds in the USA, as well as the model changeover of the BMW X3 and the BMW 5 Series in China, we were still able to achieve last year’s high sales levels, due to our policy of balanced global sales growth. Sales of our electrified vehicles continue to develop extremely well, with all nine of our electrified cars playing their role in this success."
Sales of 50,711 BMW i, BMW iPerformance, and electrified Mini vehicles through the end of July puts the BMW Group at just over 50 percent of its stated goal to sell 100,000 electrified vehicles in 2017. However, with 58 percent of the year gone as of the end of July, the company will need to press a little harder to make their hundred grand. Perhaps we might see some incentives to buy electrified BMWs and Minis before the end of the year. By the way, BMW says that sales figures to date make the BMW Group the third largest basic electric vehicle/plug-in electric vehicle manufacturer in the world.
A total of 153,511 BMW-branded vehicles were delivered in July and the 1,191,547 BMW sold so far is a new record for the period. BMW X vehicles continue to be major contributors, despite the fall-off of X3 sales as customers wait for 2018 models to arrive in showrooms later this year.
Mini worldwide sales in 2017 climbed 3.4 percent over the same period last year as 208,188 Minis were delivered, driven in part by the new Mini Countryman. Sales of the newest Mini were up 33.5 percent in July.
Two-wheel fans took home 14,385 BMW motorcycles and maxi-scooters in July, also a new record. BMW Motorrad reported 103,224 deliveries so far this year and is heading to an all-time high in 2017 as well.
The slump in U.S. sales in recent months was partially offset by significant increases in BMW pre-owned sales, but this bright spot dimmed somewhat in July. While total BMW pre-owned sales for the first seven months of 2017 are 12.4 percent ahead of the same period in 2016, at 140,607 units, total BMW pre-owned sales in July dropped 7.8 percent from July 2016.
Because of the BMW Group's balanced approach to world markets, the U.S. slump did not prevent the company from achieving record sales. However, new BMW of North America President and CEO Bernhard Kuhnt has to be thinking how much better the bottom line might be if he could change the trend in the U.S. market.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
