Η BMW η μεγαλύτερη premium αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία και το 2014

Η BMW για ακόμη μια χρονιά, διατηρήθηκε στη πρώτη θέση της μεγαλύτερης premium αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίας παγκοσμίως, σε ότι αφορά των αριθμό πωλήσεων νέων αυτοκινήτων της. Κατά τη διάρκεια του περασμένου έτους το BMW Group πούλησε για πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία του περισσότερα από 2 εκατ. αυτοκίνητα. Συγκεκριμένα 2.117.968 αυτοκίνητα (BMW, Mini και Rolls Royce) παρουσιάζοντας αύξηση 7,9% σε σχέση με το 2013. Η BMW πούλησε συνολικά 1.811.719 αυτοκίνητα (+9,5%), Η Mini πούλησε 302.183 αυτοκίνητα (-0,9%), ενώ η Rolls Royce 4.063 (+11,9%) αυτοκίνητα, κάνοντας ιστορικό ρεκόρ.

Η BMW διατήρησε τον τίτλο της πολυτελούς αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίες με τις μεγαλύτερες πωλήσεις παγκοσμίως και το 2014, αφού τερμάτισε μπροστά από την Audi η οποία πούλησε 1.741.100 (+10,5%) και τη Mercedes-Benz που πούλησε 1.650.010 αυτοκίνητα (+12,9%). Αξίζει να σημειωθεί πως και οι τρεις αυτοκινητοβιομηχανίες φέτος έκαναν ρεκόρ πωλήσεων. Η Smart από τη μεριά της είδε τις πωλήσεις της να μειώνονται κατά 10,9% σε 89.844 μονάδες. Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες μπορείς να βρεις στα δελτίο τύπου που ακολουθούν.

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BMW Group sells more than 2 million vehicles in 2014

• Record worldwide sales: up 7.9% with a total of 2,117,965 deliveries
• Best ever year for BMW, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce
• MINI sales up 20.7% in December – a new record for the month
• Robertson: New models and balanced global growth key to success
• BMW i sales around 17,800; Krüger: BMW i8 production increased

Munich.The BMW Group delivered more than two million vehicles to customers in 2014, the company’s fourth record year in a row. A total of 2,117,965 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were sold, more than ever before in the Group’s history (prev. yr. 1,963,798 / +7.9%). All of the company’s brands finished the year strongly with sales in December up 15.2% – a total of 215,217 vehicles were delivered in the last month of the year (prev. yr. 186,786).

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW said, “I am delighted that we achieved our target of selling more than two million vehicles in 2014, a new record for the BMW Group. We have seen good growth throughout the year, well spread across all major sales regions. Our new models such as the BMW X4 and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer demonstrate our ability to develop new vehicles which attract new customers to the brand. The popularity of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 shows our game-changing ‘born electric’ strategy is on track. We are now looking forward to building on these successes in 2015.”

2014 was the best year ever for the BMW brand. Deliveries of BMW vehicles totalled 1,811,719, an increase of 9.5% on the previous year (1,655,138). Sales in December also achieved a new high, up 14.2% on the same month last year (177,954 / prev. yr. 155,835).

In its first full year on the market, the BMW 2 Series Coupé has been delivered to a total of 27,933 customers while 13,091 customers have taken delivery of the 2 Series Active Tourer during the three months it has been on sale. Sales of the segment-leading BMW 3 Series were up on last year, totalling 476,792 (prev. yr. 467,672 / +2.0%). Deliveries of the BMW 4 Series models totalled 119,580 in 2014. The BMW 5 Series, which also leads it segment globally, saw sales increase 1.7% this year, with a total of 373,053 delivered to customers worldwide (prev. yr. 366,992). The BMW X4, which went on sale in July, has been delivered to 21,688 customers while the new third-generation of the BMW X5 has increased sales by 37.4% compared to last year (147,381 / prev. yr. 107,231).

Around 17,800 customers have taken delivery of an innovative BMW i vehicle in 2014. Global deliveries of the BMW i3 total 16,052; nearly three-quarters of those sales occurred in the second half of the year, following the vehicle’s late-spring market launch in several major markets including the USA. The keys to a total of 1,741 BMW i8s have been handed over to customers since it went on sale in the summer.

Due to the success of the BMW i vehicles, their production continues to ramp up. Harald Krüger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production said, “Our production lines in Leipzig are highly flexible and we have switched more production to the i8 to reduce customer waiting times to a better level. Meanwhile, more than 100 BMW i3’s leave the plant each day. The BMW Group is the first automotive company to manufacture using significant quantities of carbon fibre in series production and the success of these cars speaks for itself.”

Despite the change in the core MINI model this year, annual sales remained around last year’s record level with a total of 302,183 vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 305,030 / -1.0%). Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for MINI, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce was particularly pleased with how the year ended for the brand. “MINI saw its best ever fourth quarter with sales up 17.2% (94,624 / prev. yr. 80,748). It was also a record December with sales increasing 20.7% compared with the same month in 2013 (36,773 / prev. yr. 30,455). Since coming fully onto the market, sales of the new third generation MINI 3-door and the brand new MINI 5-door have been very strong.” In December, sales of the 3-door were up 33.9% (16,418 / prev. yr. 12,262) while a total of 6,954 customers took delivery of a 5-door MINI in the last month of 2014. The MINI Countryman saw sales grow 5.0% across the year (106,995 / prev. yr. 101,897) while deliveries of the MINI Paceman totalled 15,567 in 2014, an increase of 6.0% (prev. yr. 14,687).

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced record sales results for a fifth consecutive year, with 4,063 units (prev. yr. 3,630 / +11.9%) sold globally during 2014, more than ever before in the brand’s 111-year history. Peter Schwarzenbauer said, “Rolls-Royce has seen strong sales worldwide, with double-digit increases in most regions. This exceptional growth means that deliveries have more than quadrupled since 2009.” Sales were driven by strong orders for Ghost Series II, launched in November, and Wraith, which enjoyed its first full year of sales, while the Phantom remains the company’s pinnacle product.

BMW Motorrad has achieved a fourth successive sales record, selling over 120,000 maxi-scooters and motorcycles for the first time ever, an increase of around 7%. The exact figures will be released on Monday.

The BMW Group achieved growth in all major sales regions in 2014

In Europe, a total of 913,803 BMW and MINI brand vehicles were delivered to customers (prev. yr. 858,990 / +6.4%). All European markets have experienced growth in 2014. The BMW Group’s home market, Germany, saw sales increase 1.7% across the year with 273,433 new vehicles registered (prev. yr. 268,838). Sales in the region’s second biggest market, Great Britain, grew 8.4% in 2014 (204,749 / prev. yr. 188,837) while a total of 67,449 BMW and MINI vehicles were delivered in France, an increase of 5.3% (prev. yr. 64,082).

Sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in Asia grew by 13.8% in 2014 with sales totalling 656,395 (prev. yr. 576,616). This level of sales growth was reflected in the December figures – deliveries in the last month of the year totalled 61,295 (prev. yr. 54,546 / +12.4%). The year saw sales in Mainland China grow by 16.7%, with a total of 455,979 BMW and MINI vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 390,713). Strong sales growth was also experienced in South Korea, where 46,400 customer deliveries were made, an increase of 17.3% on the previous year (39,558).

Sales growth of 3.9% was recorded at year-end in the Americas (481,056 / prev. yr. 462,891). The USA was the region’s main growth driver in 2014, annual sales there were up 5.3% to total 395,850 (prev. yr. 375,782). Canada also saw positive growth of 1.2% (38,188 / prev. yr. 37,723) while sales in Mexico increased by 6.5% compared with the previous year (14,902 / prev. yr. 13,992).

Double-digit growth was recorded in the Middle East region with a total of 30,148 BMW and MINI vehicles sold in 2014, an increase of 22.6% compared with the previous year (24,596). December sales in the region were up 30.4% with a total of 2,511 vehicles delivered to customers in the last month of the year (prev. yr. 1,926).

BMW Group sales in/up to December 2014 at a glance

AUDI AG: new record year with over 1.74 million deliveries in 2014

• Worldwide sales increase by 10.5 percent
• Audi CEO Rupert Stadler: “Successful year 2014 is evidence of our brand strength”
• Sales chief Luca de Meo: “In the United States, Audi is growing at almost three times the rate of the market”
• New all-time high in Europe and extended leadership in Chinese premium market

In 2014, AUDI AG clearly exceeded its goal of 1.7 million deliveries: By year-end, the company handed over around 1,741,100 cars to customers, 10.5 percent more than in 2013. The company was thus once again able to accelerate its growth pace and achieved with around 165,600 additional customers the second-highest volume increase in its history. The coveted SUV models* (+15.8%) and the A3 family* available worldwide for the first time in 2014 (+53.2%) contributed primarily to the strong sales total. In December, Audi continued to post double-digit growth and concluded the year with sales up 14.7 percent to around 150,000 units for the month.

“2014 is impressive evidence of the Audi brand’s strength,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “We accomplished a very successful record year even before the second stage of our model initiative. Meanwhile, conditions in many markets continue to be challenging.”

Sales chief Luca de Meo emphasizes the ongoing globalization of AUDI AG’s business as an important success factor: “Last year, we advanced in all regions around the world and gained market share. We increased our lead in the Chinese premium segment and concluded the year in Europe significantly above the pre‑crisis level of 2007. On the U.S. market, Audi is growing at almost three times the rate of total automotive sales.” Overall, Audi achieved new all‑time highs in 50 countries in 2014. Globally, the company’s deliveries increased by more than 100,000 units for the fifth year in a row. Compared to sales of 949,729 units in 2009, almost 800,000 more customers chose the brand with the four rings last year.

In the United States, deliveries more than doubled in the same period of time, from 82,716 automobiles in 2009 to 182,011. In 2014, the brand with the four rings achieved an increase of 15.2 percent in the United States. With 19,238 deliveries, December was the strongest sales month ever for Audi of America, and the 48th record in a row – as in 2011, 2012 and 2013, Audi again succeeded in beating the respective prior‑year volume each month in 2014. The Q5* played a significant role in this, rising to become the best‑selling Audi model in the United States for the first time with 42,420 units (+5.1%). The full‑size SUV Q7* also made significant progress in its ninth year of sales, increasing 15.9 percent. In the compact segment, the Q3* extended Audi’s SUV portfolio on the U.S. market in fall; moreover, the A3 Sedan* celebrated its successful premiere at American dealerships in spring. Canada (+19.5%) and Mexico (+10.5%) also contributed to Audi’s successful year in North America with double‑digit growth. Despite difficult market conditions in several countries, sales in South America also increased considerably for AUDI AG, above all in Brazil (+89.9% to 12,350 cars). Demand in that country grew faster than expected, resulting in dealerships running low on cars at the end of the year.

In Europe, Audi sales climbed 4.2 percent in 2014 to 762,900 cars – a new record for the highest selling premium brand in the region. Whereas in Western Europe alone the total market continued to lag behind its pre‑crisis level of 2007 by around one fifth, Audi sales in 2014 exceeded those of 2007 by around eight percent. Audi UK in particular recorded a strong boost in sales last year, reaching the 150,000 mark for the first time with a plus of 11.8 percent to 158,829 customers in the United Kingdom. Audi also saw considerable growth in Spain (+9.4% to 38,277 cars); in Germany (+2.2% to 255,582 cars) and Italy (+4.3% to 49,022 cars), the company also sold more cars than one year ago. In the ongoing unstable economic environment in France, Audi reached the previous year’s level (+0.4% to 57,214 cars). The brand with the four rings closed out 2014 in each of the five largest Western European automotive markets as the highest selling premium brand in the passenger car segment. In Russia however, sales didn’t maintain the levels of the previous year. Due to the challenging conditions in the market, 34,014 deliveries for Audi remained 5.9 percent below the 2013 record, while still developing more stable than the market as a whole. Across all European markets, the A3 family (+19.0%) was among the key drivers of Audi’s positive performance in 2014. Launched in the fall of 2013, the all‑new A3 Sedan exceeded expectations in Europe, too. In addition, the particularly efficient ultra models provided a strong impetus. Introduced gradually onto the markets over the past months, the ultra portfolio already accounted for nearly 10 percent of Audi sales in Europe in 2014. For the A6*, the share of ultra models in Europe was even around one third.

Among the major Asian markets, South Korea reported the highest growth for Audi in the year just ended, up 38.0 percent to 27,647 customers. Thanks to strong demand in particular for the brand’s full‑size models, Audi’s sales figures have increased more than four fold in the market over the past five years. Despite their slowed market dynamics, Japan (+9.1% to 31,356 cars) and India (+8.5% to 10,851 cars) also performed positively for Audi in 2014. Audi continued its growth in China as well, increasing sales by 17.7 percent to 578,932 cars in 2014. AUDI AG thus became the first premium carmaker to sell over a half a million units in China within a single year. In December alone, Audi handed over 62,576 automobiles to Chinese customers and registered the highest monthly sales total in its history. In addition to further increasing sales in the full‑size category, Audi’s growth in 2014 was also fueled by the locally produced A3 Sedan available since fall and the entire SUV family. Compared to one year ago, Chinese dealerships delivered twice as many of the Q3 compact SUV alone (+103%).

Also worldwide, all of the brand’s SUVs posted increasing sales figures and together achieved a 15.8 percent growth to 507,500 cars. Almost one in three Audi customers chose an SUV in 2014 – this translates into more than doubled SUV sales compared to 2011. With the Q3 and Q5, both bestsellers of the Q family are the most successful premium models in their respective competitive segments. In the full‑size category, Audi will present the new Q7* at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit beginning next week.

Mercedes-Benz posts best-ever sales in the company’s history

• Mercedes-Benz sells 1,650,010 vehicles in 2014 (+12.9%) – more than ever before. It is the fourth record year in a row.
• 2014 ends with strongest sales month (163,171 units) and best quarter (454,854 units) in the company’s history.
• Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Mercedes-Benz is on a course of success. The best sales in our company’s history show that our product offensive is bearing fruit. Our new models are extremely popular among our customers. The success is due in particular to our compact cars, the new C-Class and the S-Class. We have managed to grow unit sales in all core markets. In 2015, we will continue our product offensive in the SUV segment. We expect additional sales momentum by the SUVs, the full availability of the new C-Class, the compact cars and the two smart models.”
• Growth drivers: S-Class Sedan (+82.2%) and compact cars (+24.7%)
• Sales records in the USA (+5.7%) and in China (+29.1%)
• For the first time, China is the second largest market after the USA.
• Market leader in Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada and Russia

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz sold more cars than ever before in 2014. The brand with the star delivered 1,650,010 vehicles to customers (+12.9%) and achieved the fourth record year in a row. Record sales were posted in every month of the year 2014 – including in December with 163,171 units sold (+17.2%). The past year ended for the Stuttgart based company with the strongest sales month and the best quarter (454,854 units) in the company’s history.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Mercedes-Benz is on a course of success. The best sales in our company’s history show that our product offensive is bearing fruit. Our new models are extremely popular among our customers. The success is due in particular to our compact cars, the new C-Class and the S-Class. We have managed to grow unit sales in all core markets. In 2015, we will continue our product offensive in the SUV segment. We expect additional sales momentum by the SUVs, the full availability of the new C-Class, the compact cars and the two smart models.”

“Mercedes me” is setting new standards for customer service

“Our product offensive is still running at high speed. Until 2020, we will bring at least eleven new models without a predecessor to the market”, says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “Our new products will ensure further growth through 2020 as will the consistent alignment of all marketing channels to the changing customer wishes and needs”, adds Källenius. To this end, the brand with the star is pooling its efforts in the initiative “Mercedes-Benz 2020 – Best Customer Experience”, through which Mercedes-Benz is placing a stronger focus on its inner-city presence. The world’s first Mercedes me store, which offers customers a combination of vehicle presentations, culinary experiences, events, information, consulting and digital interaction possibilities, opened its doors in Hamburg in June. Since the spring of 2014, Mercedes-Benz is bundling all service and mobility offerings under the “Mercedes me” umbrella brand. At the “Mercedes me” website, the customer can obtain global access to all Mercedes-Benz services via a personalized ID. With this, “Mercedes me” is setting new standards for individual customer service.

High sales growth in European markets

In the overall European market, unit sales increased by 9.4% in 2014 and are thus significantly above the general market growth. In December, 66,777 vehicles were handed over to customers in Europe (+21.5%). In the toughly competitive German market, Mercedes-Benz continued to defend its market leadership among the premium manufacturers in 2014. Sales in Germany jumped by 13.6% in December. In the United Kingdom, the second largest European market of the company, 2014 was another record year for unit sales, with a total of 123,480 vehicle deliveries to customers (+14.6%). The company also posted record high sales in Portugal (+45.7%), Switzerland (+15.8%) and Belgium (+8.0%). Unit sales in Spain grew by more than 30%.

Sales records in the two largest markets: USA and China

In the year 2014, unit sales in the NAFTA Region totaled 373,291 vehicles (+5.8%), of which 330,391 were in the USA alone (+5.7%). Thus, the USA has maintained its position as the largest sales market of Mercedes-Benz. New records were posted in the USA, Canada and Mexico in the past year. In Canada, Mercedes-Benz holds the market leadership among the premium manufacturers.

For the first time, China outpaced Germany as the second largest market in 2014. With 281,588 vehicles sold, sales in China have never been so high (+29.1%). The C-Class long-wheelbase version is available there since August. New sales records were posted in 2014 in Japan and Australia, where Mercedes-Benz is market leader among the premium manufacturers. Total sales in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 25.7% to 491,321 units.

New compacts as growth drivers

The compact car segment, which was extended by the GLA in March, was particularly successful in 2014. Unit sales grew by 24.7% to 463,152 vehicles of the A-, B-, CLA- and GLA-Class. Mercedes-Benz has never before delivered so many compacts to customers in a single year. With the CLA Shooting Brake, the fifth compact car model will be launched in spring of 2015.

Year of the C-Class

The C-Class Sedan maintained its position as the top-volume model of Mercedes-Benz again in 2014. The new sedan is the first vehicle to be produced on four continents. The annual sales of the new sedan and the new estate, which came on the market in March and September 2014, rose by 4.4% to 316,792 units in the past year. Sales in December even increased by nearly 50% compared to the previous year’s month. In 2015, the company expects additional sales momentum from this model series through the full availability of the two new models and further engines.

E-Class long-wheelbase version with sales record

With sales of 257,571 units, the E-Class Sedan and Estate made a significant contribution to the good sales result of the past year (+6.2%). The E-Class long-wheelbase version, which is offered in China, was especially popular: The demand for this model jumped by 49.8% to 56,344 vehicles sold. The E-Class long-wheelbase version is often used as a chauffeured limousine in China since the customers appreciate the increased legroom. For fleet customers worldwide, especially the E-Class Estate is of primary importance.

S-Class still the best-selling luxury sedan in the world

Once again, the S-Class was the best-selling luxury sedan in the world in 2014. In the past year, unit sales of the S-Class Sedan skyrocketed by 82.2% to 103,737 vehicles sold. The new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will celebrate its market launch in 2015. In November, the first model of the new sub-brand Mercedes-Maybach was presented to the public for the first time in Guangzhou and Los Angeles.

The SUV boom continues

SUV sales in 2014 reached a new record of 341,788 vehicles (+5.3%). Record high sales were posted by the GLK-Class (+7.7%), the M-Class (+8.7%) and the G-Class (+10.4%).

Expansion of the passenger car family by the V-Class

Since May 2014, the new V-Class is the biggest member of the passenger car family of Mercedes-Benz. With its design and numerous innovations it is setting new standards in its segment. Since the market launch, nearly 25,000 V-Class vehicles have already been handed over to customers.

S-Class Coupé and CLS as new dream cars

The Mercedes-Benz dream cars include all roadsters, cabriolets and coupés with the star. In 2014, a total of 141,998 customers fulfilled their wish for a dream car. With the S-Class Coupé and the CLS facelift launched in September, the dream car successes are to be continued in 2015.

Mercedes-AMG with offensive product and growth strategy

The sports car and performance brand Mercedes-AMG posted a record year in 2014 with sales of 47.632 vehicles. The entry into the compact class and the expansion of the model offering have brought new customer groups and successes for Mercedes-AMG in established and new markets. Completely self-developed models, such as the Mercedes-AMG GT presented in 2014, support the success story of the brand and its growth course sustainably. With the new AMG sports models, which are targeted to the segment between the AMG line for Mercedes-Benz and the classic AMG vehicles, Mercedes-AMG will offer customers a new entry into the AMG world.

New smart models popular among our customers

In the year of the model change, 89,844 smart units were sold (PY 100,792). In 2014, smart was particularly successful in the USA, where the previous year’s sales could be topped by 12.8%. The new smart fortwo and the four-seater smart forfour are available at the dealers since the end of November. Unit sales jumped by 17.5% in the first month after the launch. For 2015, the brand expects a significant increase in the sales numbers worldwide through the availability of the new models.

The carsharing provider car2go counts one million customers worldwide at the turn of the year. After the 2014 start of car2go in the cities of Rome, Florence, Frankfurt, Copenhagen and Stockholm, as well as in South Bay L.A. and Brooklyn N.Y.C., use of smart carsharing services is now possible in 30 European and North American cities.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

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