- Profit up 10 percent.
- Production and sales top 100,000 units, almost double 1996
figures.
- Two million BMW motorcycles milestone reached.
- Two BMW motorcycles win prestigious design awards.
Everything is looking up at BMW Motorrad, especially the
numbers.
BMW Motorrad's sales, production, turnover and operating profits
achieved new records in the business year 2006, figures released by
the company today show.
The pre-tax operating profits increased by 10 per cent to 66
million euros (previous year 60 million euros) and turnover climbed
by 3.4 per cent to 1,265 million euros (previous year 1,223).
Product and sales increased impressively - an outstanding feat
in view of the currency-related position of Japanese competitors
and the slow German market.
For the first time in the company's history, more than 100,000
motorcycles were produced at the Berlin plant - 101,352 units to be
precise. In addition, 2,407 units were produced in cooperation with
Aprilia (Piaggio S.p.A.). At the Berlin plant alone, six new model
launches were successfully handled in 2006.
In sales too, a historical record was achieved. Exactly 100,064
BMW motorcycles were supplied by dealers to customers worldwide.
Compared to the previous year, (97,474 units) this meant a sales
increase of 2.7 per cent, underscoring the success of the current
product offensive. These sales figures appear even more impressive
in the context of the last few years - starting from a figure of
50,465 units in 1996, sales of BMW motorcycles have virtually
doubled within the last ten years.
In Australia 1,610 BMW Motorrad machines were sold in 2006.
Another historic figure was achieved for company statistics
during the last business year: the total number of BMW motorcycles
built since 1923 passed the two-million mark in 2006; with exactly
2,061,977 BMW motorcycles built in this time.
Experts estimate that more than 70 per cent of motorcycles built
since 1945 are still functional and owned by customers - an
impressive confirmation that BMW Motorrad builds motorcycles which
consistently sustain demand.
The new models presented at INTERMOT 2006 have already made
their mark. The new G 650 single-cylinder series is built by BMW in
cooperation with the Italian manufacturer Aprilia - an important
role model for the strengthening of the motorcycle industry in
Europe as a whole.
While the four-cylinder BMW K 1200 R Sport has already met with
a positive response internationally, the market launch of the
highly exclusive HP2 Megamoto in May is anticipated with great
excitement. The Megamoto will come to Australia mid-year but there
are no plans for the R 1200 R Sport.
In addition to the US market, it is the markets in Western
Europe which have the largest share in the impressive sales
figures. In Germany, 23,617 units were supplied, making BMW the
market leader in its home country. The second strongest market was
Italy (13,651 units), while Spain ranked third with 10,002 units -
here sales have doubled in just two years.
Since 2004, BMW Motorrad has introduced 17 new models and
undertaken a complete revision of its model range over the two-year
period. In just a single decade, BMW Motorrad has become the
biggest and most important European manufacturer of large-volume
motorcycles.
Meanwhile the BMW K 1200 GT and F 800 S have just received a
prestigious thumbs up in the influential 2007 "Industrie Forum
Design iF Product Design Awards".
An international panel of judges selected the two Motorrad
products introduced in 2006 as the most outstanding examples this
year of attractive and successful product design worldwide.
In all, the Awards considered presentations from no less than
2,293 products from 35 countries.
The iF Label is renowned and acknowledged the world over as a
symbol of comprehensive, up-to-date product quality in design.
Presented once a year, this special Award gives leading
designers, manufacturers and brands the unique opportunity to
successfully face global, inter-disciplinary and therefore highly
challenging competition.
In recent years the BMW Group has won a large number of prizes
and awards. Numerous vehicles as well as accessories and lifestyle
products marketed by BMW Group brands already wear the iF
Label.
The criteria applied by the jury in presenting the award include
the degree of innovation of a new product, its functionality, the
visualisation of its purpose, safety, as well as the environmental
compatibility of a new product.
For further press/media information
contact:
Alexander Corne
Communications and Specialist Media Manager
BMW Group Australia
Phone: 03 9264 4150
Fax: 03 9562 2799
Mobile: 0439 568 819
Email: alexander.corne@bmw.com.au