After a record year in 2011, the race for the leader among the German luxury-party continue. BMW currently has the edge. New models should help to increase the lead.
BMW is looking for a record year, the rival Audi and Daimler remains at a distance. 2011 sold the Munich as many cars as never before, in total, the Group sold worldwide last year from 1.67 million vehicles the three brands BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce - an increase of 14.2 percent, as the company on Monday Munich announced the launch of the U.S. auto show in Detroit. Audi and Daimler announce for 2011 records, but remain behind the Bavarian industry leader.
"2011 was an outstanding year for the BMW Group. Our sales target of more than 1.6 million vehicles sold, we have "surpassed, said BMW sales director Ian Robertson. Robertson will continue to hold the top position in its segment. "We want to grow and remain balanced on all continents and in 2012, the most successful premium car manufacturer," he said.
Especially on the giant U.S. car market BMW will expand its lead over rivals Mercedes continued "That is our goal," Robertson said in Detroit. Last year, the U.S. was with 305,418 (up 14.9 percent on-year) vehicles the biggest market for the BMW Group. The BMW brand secured with sales of 247,907 units, the title of the largest luxury-class manufacturer in the United States just ahead of Mercedes. The Swabians sold 2715 cars less.
Robertson combines high hopes in the U.S. with the new generation of the 3 Series, which comes in February at the dealership. "The 3 Series is designed for the U.S. customers, so we are set to outperform the market." The car association VDA said on Monday ahead for 2012, an increase of 5 percent for the U.S. market.
Audi BMW remains world especially on the heels of
The VW subsidiary increased sales by a whopping 19.2 percent in 2011 and sold 1,302,650 cars worldwide. "2011 was an unprecedented year in the history of Audi: Never before have we won in a year as many new customers," said sales director Peter Schwarzenbauer.
Daimler had already announced in the past week highs. Total translated from 1,362,908 vehicles in the Stuttgart car brand Mercedes-Benz, smart, AMG and Maybach - 7.7 percent more than in 2010. "In 2012 we will continue our product initiative and bring more attractive vehicles on the market, which will give us additional momentum," said Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche. The core brand Mercedes-Benz, there were 1,260,912 cars so that the Swabians are behind the competition from Ingolstadt in third place.
The onslaught of Asians on luxury cars, Porsche also gave a record year. Worldwide last year, 118,867 vehicles were sold - an increase of 22.2 percent over the previous year, as Porsche announced in Stuttgart. In the new year, the new 911-generation set strong impulses.
BMW 2011 to lay primarily in Asia. There the Munich sold 373,613 cars with about 31 percent more than in 2010. In Europe, sales grew by 8.5 percent to 857,792 vehicles. Robertson expects 2012 global sector growth of between 4 and 5 percent. The BMW Group will, according to forecasts outperform the market, but the single digits.
The manufacturer will invest in the coming years in European works, Robertson said: "The capacity will be expanded in the near future until we can produce our sales target of 2 million cars a year."
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