Record car sales predicted

BMW (UK) Ltd is set to achieve record BMW new car sales in 2006. Having broken through the 100,000 barrier in November, BMW is anticipating an increase of 3 per cent over 2005’s record year of 111,666 sales, in a market expected to be down by almost 4 per cent.

Underpinning this exceptional performance are record sales of the 3 Series Touring model with well over 8,000 sold so far this year; an increase of nearly 50 per cent compared to 2005. Sales of all BMW 3 Series models have increased by over 10 per cent, whilst the BMW 5 Series has recorded a year to date increase of almost 10 per cent.

The BMW 7 Series, in particular, achieved unprecedented success. Following its mid-life refresh in spring 2005 the 7 Series model became the best-selling luxury executive car worldwide in 2005. In the UK 2,331 have been registered so far this year, its best ever year in this generation. This represents over one-third more registrations than in 2005.

This sales performance was supported by the launch of a plethora of new models in the BMW range. A total of 52 new models arrived, making 2006 BMW’s most prolific year ever for model introductions in the UK. They included the new 3 Series Coupé and Z4 Coupé, the revised Z4 Roadster and X3 Sports Activity Vehicle and, BMW’s most expensive model ever, the new BMW M6 Convertible. New engine derivatives for 3 Series Saloon and Touring, and Exclusive Editions for the 7 Series range also joined the BMW line up.

This success looks set to continue into next year with the launch of two eagerly anticipated new models. The BMW 3 Series Convertible goes on sale in the UK on

24 March 2007 and orders are currently stretching into the summer. The second generation BMW X5 goes on sale on 28 April 2007 and, even more impressively, has nearly sold out to the end of 2007.

The first generation X5 proved to be a huge hit following its launch in 1999 with sales reaching record levels year-on-year. With limited stock left in the dealer network BMW has never experienced a more successful run-out of an outgoing model. The interest in the X5 is also borne out by its popularity as a used car. More than 3,100 used X5 3.0d models have found customers in the UK so far this year making it BMW’s most popular Approved Used Car model.