Straight Eight: BMW Motorrad achieves eighth all-time sales high in succession in 2018 (FOTO)

Munich (ots) -

- Worldwide deliveries increase by 0.9% to 165,566 vehicles
- BMW Motorrad continues on its path of growth
- Focus on new markets and new segments and continue with model
initiative

BMW Motorrad sold more motorcycles and maxi scooters in 2018 than
ever before. Compared to the strong previous year, deliveries
increased by a further 0.9%. As of December 2018 a total of 165,566
vehicles (previous year 164,153 units) were delivered to customers.

Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad: "2018 was another very
successful year for BMW Motorrad. We achieved a sales record for the
eighth time in succession. I would like to thank our customers most
sincerely for the great trust they have placed in us again in 2018.

With this next sales record, BMW Motorrad takes another great step
towards reaching its planned sales target of 200,000 units in the
year 2020.

Schramm says: "The 2018 sales figure shows that our motorcycle
growth strategy is taking effect. This success was achieved due to
the market launch of six new models as well as the powerful BMW
Motorrad product portfolio. And we still have a great deal planned
for the coming years. Our ongoing model initiative in the premium
segment continues. We will expand our product range with emotional
and innovative new products in 2019, too. We will also be increasing
our involvement in motorsport significantly. In the 2019 season, the
new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will lining up at the start with the
BMW S 1000 RR at the FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK).

Strong sales in Europe and the USA

The good performances on the big European markets and in the US
were a major cornerstone for these successful sales figures. The most
important markets France (16,615 units), Italy (14,110 units), Spain
(11,124 units) and the UK / IE (9,224 units) as well as the USA
(13,842 units) once again recorded high-level sales figures. With
23,824 units, Germany is the largest individual market for BMW
Motorrad yet again and the company defends its position as the most
successful motorcycle manufacturer on the German market, too.

Significant growth in China, Brazil and India

BMW Motorrad is continuing to expand in China and Brazil, too.
With 7,561 BMW motorcycles and scooters sold and a growth rate of
over 35%, China together with Brazil (7,361 units / + 11%) are among
the markets with the strongest growth. In India, with 2,187 units
sold in 2018, the BMW Group's own sales subsidiary has successfully
established the sales of BMW motorcycles on the market following the
start of business in 2017.

GS models are unstoppable

For the first time in BMW Motorrad's history, more than 51,000
units of the R 1200/1250 GS and GS Adventure travel enduros alone
were sold. With a total of around 84,500 units, the traditionally
strong R Series once again confirmed its leading position in the
overall range. The R nineT model variants played a significant role
here in 2018.

The sports-oriented BMW S Series with the S 1000 RR Supersports
Bike, the S 1000 R Power Roadster and the S 1000 XR Adventure Bike
were sold 18,773 times world wide. This shows that these three models
continue to be an important pillar in the wide BMW Motorrad range.

The capacity segment below 500cc among the top five models

24,363 units of the G 310 R and G 310 GS models introduced in
2017, have already been delivered to customers by the end of 2018.
The two agile all-rounders are thus among the "Top Five" of the
top-selling models in 2018 and are very popular all over the world.

Luxury tourers in the fast lane

Sales of the 6-cylinder models are also developing very
positively. In its second year of sales, above all the K 1600 Bagger,
which is tailored especially to the US market, is proof of the
unbroken trend towards large-capacity, emotional touring bikes. Timo
Resch, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing: "With 8,306 units
sold and a 25% increase in sales, our 6-cylinder models are among the
big winners of 2018 again. The USA especially, is an important market
for these models. We will continue to increase our involvement in
the US in order to strengthen BMW Motorrad's position there." Resch
continues: "We will respond to the special market requirements in the
USA with a further highly emotional and very authentic BMW Motorrad
product."

Outlook at 2019

BMW Motorrad presents the most powerful product portfolio of all
time in 2019 and is in excellent shape all round. Timo Resch states:
"We expect to see further growth in sales for our vehicles in 2019,
too. We are looking forward to the positive impulses generated by our
new products from the R 1250 boxer family, the much anticipated new S
1000 R as well as the F 850 GS Adventure which expands the mid-size
BMW Motorrad model range." Expanding our urban mobility product range
with the market launch of the two scooters C 400 X and C 400 GT will
also have contribute to success in 2019.

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world's leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production
and assembly facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2017 was EUR 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to
EUR 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 129,932 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value
chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

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In case of queries, please contact:
Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49 151 601 57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.de

Ingo Wirth, Head of Communications MINI, BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49 89 382-25814, Ingo.Wirth@bmw.de

Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Original-Content von: BMW Group, übermittelt durch news aktuell