BMW secures position as leading premium passenger vehicle and Sports Activity Vehicle brand in Canada

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Jan. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported 34, 928 retails for the year 2011, an increase of 10.2 per cent over 2010. A total of 2,666 units were sold in December, an increase of 3.9 per cent over December, 2010.

This marks 21 consecutive years of growth for BMW Group Canada, and the company's best year ever. It surpassed its previous best year ever, 2010, with its November sales results. BMW, MINI and BMW Group Pre-Owned all set records for year-end sales results, and the BMW brand was the leading premium passenger car and Sports Activity Vehicle brand in the country.

BMW.

The BMW brand reported its best year ever with sales of 29,773, an increase of 9.5 per cent compared to 2010 year-end results. This made BMW the leading premium brand of passenger cars and Sports Activity Vehicles in Canada for 2011. For the month, the brand sold 2,214 units in December, a decrease of 1.7 per cent over the same month last year.

MINI.

MINI also achieved its best year ever, reporting 5,155 units for 2011, an increase of 14.5 per cent over last year. MINI sales for the month of December were 452 units, an increase of 43.5 per cent over December, 2010.

Motorrad.

BMW Motorrad Canada reported 1,625 units in 2011, a decrease of 15.6 per cent compared to 2010. December sales of 3 units represent a decrease of 84.2 per cent compared to December, 2010. The overall motorcycle market experienced a double-digit decline in Canada in 2011.

Pre-owned.

BMW Group Pre-Owned also reported a record year, with both BMW Pre-Owned and MINI Pre-Owned recording best-ever years.

BMW Pre-Owned recorded 13,098 units sold in 2011, an increase of 2.5 per cent over 2010. For the month of December, 937 units were retailed, a decrease of 11.3 per cent over December, 2010.

MINI Pre-Owned raised the bar in 2011 with a best-ever 1,986 units sold, an increase of 40.9 per cent over 2010. For December, 102 units were sold, a decrease of 20.3 per cent over December, 2010.

BMW Group in Canada

BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 44 BMW automobile retail centres, 20 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 29 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

Source:

Barb Pitblado

Director, Corporate Communications

BMW Group Canada

Office: 905-428-5005 / Cell: 416-627-0436 / Email: barb.pitblado@bmwgroup.ca