The BMW Group continued to chalk up record numbers in 2014 as the company achieved new highs for sales and profits for the fifth year in succession and anticipates more of the same in 2015.
Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said the new records, included new highs for sales volume, revenues and group earnings. Group revenues increased 5.7% to 80.4 billion euros, or $85.4 billion, while profit before tax reached 8.7 billion euros, or $9.2 billion, and automotive segment margin on earnings before interest and taxes rose to 9.6%.
The figures served to underscored BMW’s position as the world’s leading premium car company, he added.
In view of its attractive model range and the market launch of 15 new models or model revisions during the course of 2015, the BMW Group expects an increase in sales volume worldwide again in 2015, he said.
“We are targeting further sales volume growth worldwide in the current year and hence a new record level for deliveries,” Reithofer said. “We continued to perform well during the past year, achieving new highs for sales volume, revenues and group earnings.”
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“Tailwinds caused by high customer demand for our vehicles worldwide are driving up sales volumes. Our Strategy Number ONE, which we regularly refine as we go forward, continues to contribute to our business performance.”
In line with its strategy of achieving a balanced distribution of worldwide sales, the BMW Group recorded sales volume growth in all major sales regions. The four largest sales markets for the BMW Group last year were China, US, Germany and Great Britain.
The BMW brand retained its leading position in the premium segment in 2014 by posting a new record sales volume figure. Sales climbed by 9.5% to 1,811,719 units, driven in particular by the excellent performances of the BMW 3, 4 and 5 Series and the BMW X5, each of which led the world market in its own segment.
Rolls Royce also had a record year, posting sales of more than 4,000 units for the first time, but Mini sales dropped 1% in 2014 as it prepared more model changes.
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Reithofer also said BMW i electric vehicles are on the road to success, recording a total sales volume of 17,793 units in the year under report. Worldwide sales of the BMW i3 totaled 16,052 units, a large proportion of which arose during the second half of the year, following the model’s launch in various major markets, including the US. The BMW i8 achieved sales of 1,741 units since its market launch in summer 2014.
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Overall, the revenues of the BMW group grew by 5.7% in 2014 and EBIT rose by 14.3% to 9.2 million euros thanks primarily to sales volume growth and a high-value model mix. Group profit before tax (increased by 10.3% and net income improved, also a new record high for the BMW Group.
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Sales surpassed the 2-million mark for the first time in the BMW Group’s history, climbing by 7.9% to a total of 2,117,965 units.
