BMW Motorrad reports that 2011 was its strongest-sales year ever in its nearly 90-year history, with 104,286 motorcycles delivered, which was up 6.4 percent from 2010 (98,047).
BMW reports that 2011's results exceeded the previous highest year in BMW sales, which was in 2007 when the company delivered 102,467. The record-breaking sales began in January, 2011, and grew every month. During December, BMW reported that 4,232 bikes were delivered, which was a 12.4-percent increase from the same month in 2010.
Part of the success comes from the over-500cc segment, where BMW Motorrad increased its market share by more than 12 percent last year, doubling it in the past four years.
All was not so well at BMW-owned Husqvarna, which delivered 9,286 motorcycles in 2011, (down 23 percent from 2010's 12,066). December accounted for 1,330 deliveries ( down 26.1 percent from 1,800).
Bavarian motorcycle customers got the revised flat-twin engine roadster BMW R 1200 R in 2011, which will also be available as a classical variant. The company also introduced a new G 650 GS, with a single cylinder engine and 2012 will see the new K 1600 GT and the K 1600 GTL, innovative, de luxe touring motorcycles with six cylinder inline engines, the first of their kind in the history of BMW Motorrad. ––Paul Duchene
