Filed under: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, SMART
BMW becomes world's biggest-selling premium automaker
BMW outdid compatriots Mercedes and Audi to sell the most cars in August, taking the cake with the number one spot and probably the Benjamins as well. Compared to Audi's 66,400 cars and Mercedes' (and smart's) 96,200, BMW (with MINI) rolled 99,755 cars off dealer lots.
BMW couldn't have done it without the success of the MINI, and we can debate whether it's fair to include it in a shootout. Minus the little British lifestyle accessory, BMW only moved 85,003 units. Nevertheless, as long as its in there, it bodes well for the blue-and-white propeller, with the X5 and MINI (which is up 24%) still doing very well. All three makers have new and refreshed models on the way shortly, but BMW also has the brand new -- and certain to be popular -- volume-selling 1-Series and MINI Clubman in the works.
And not that they will add too much to the tally, but while we're throwing things in, there's the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe that will probably outsell Maybach all by itself. If it isn't already, the question soon will be: can you get too much BMW?
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 10:09AM (9/10/2007)
What about Lexus?
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JimmyTheMonkey 11:17AM (9/10/2007)
I believe Lexus outsells the other luxury brands here in the US. Not sure about the rest of the world though.
nagmashot 2:51PM (9/10/2007)
Lexus is world wide only number 4. In the USA they sell little bit more as BMW or Mercedes. In the rest of the world they sell next to nothing... even in Japan Lexus has no real success.
ello 10:29AM (9/10/2007)
From my understanding, Lexus is basically non-existant throughout the world except of course for USA. It does have some sales in Europe but pretty much in worldwide sales/popularity it is left far behind the German luxury brands.
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kite 8:53PM (9/10/2007)
BMW is already the world's biggest-selling premium automaker from 2005.
What is this article mean??
BMW brabd(exclude mini) outsell tnan Benz in 2005.
And audi never outsell than benz and BMW.
SSBR 11:23AM (9/10/2007)
To the first comment about Lexus, you got to hand it to Toyota. Those guys (or gals) know how to market to Americans. Lexus is basically a Toyota with luxury items and marked up price. For years now, Lexus cars were sold in Japan as Toyota's (Up until recently...). But us American's just don't seem to care. Lexus is a hot brand here in the US. You can't blame them.. Since Lexus is just a dressed up Toyota, they have excellent reliablity and very good resale value.
However, you just simply can't beat a German luxury car (i'm talking about BMW). The handling, the style, the fit and finish. While other brands are coming on up, BMW will still hold the crown to which all manufactures try to chase.
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testa di cazzo 2:59PM (9/10/2007)
that comment was spot-on
LeRobert 11:36AM (9/10/2007)
I like to see BMW do well, too, but aren't they getting a bit too ubiquitous? The exclusiveness has gone...
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GlennS 12:41PM (9/10/2007)
Id rather buy a car because its good, not because it makes me better then other people. If you want exclusive buy an old car that you hardly ever see like a bmw 2002.
YouFaceTheTick 12:10PM (9/10/2007)
Glenn, I'd rather buy a car because it's fun. How people perceive it, it's reliability or even its sheetmetal is irrelevant to me when making a purchasing decision. i buy my cars for what they are: toys.
YouFaceTheTick 12:11PM (9/10/2007)
When were BMWs exclusive? Seriously, most SUVs cost far more than a 3 series (BMWs bread and butter). In socal you get a free 3 series with 5 purchases at Starbucks. It's the law.
Stéphane Dumas 12:47PM (9/10/2007)
There was a time when BMW was more exclusive but selling it to the dozens give to BMW, a impression of being common, perhaps even too common.
Then will the upcoming 1-series will "cheapen" in a more-long term the image of BMW like what the Packard 120 and Clipper did to Packard?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_120
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_Clipper
or more recently what the Cimarron did to Cadillac?
FuhQ 12:42PM (9/10/2007)
On Topic. I don't think that it should count as such as even though mini is R and D'd and then sold thru BMW's Dealer network, Mercedes has Smart and recently Chrysler, yet you never combined the units of "different marques". That would be like combining Audi/VW etc.
Off topic. I recently worked for a dealership owned by a racing champion who just changed the name to reflect his ego..his prerogative. Beware, i love BMW corp..but their dealers are a bit unscrupulous. While i was there, they sold 3 cars with winter tires (M+S) that were represented as Run Flats. I was told not to say anything.
I am working for Mercedes starting soon. I hope they exhibit or value integrity
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Mehool 12:50AM (9/11/2007)
I assume you are working in the sales side of things. What were your hearings/thoughts on the service side @ BMW. I expect to be working as a tech in a dealership within a year.
FuhQ in Atlanta 1:45AM (9/11/2007)
Depends on the dealership and how their manager's own personal integrity credos trickle down. Service is generally honest yet recently, we had someone in from BMWNA assigned to the dealership, examining why a car that was recently repaired,suddenly back the next day with the same or another issue. While i understand that business is run in order to generate profit, it appears that sometimes there are generously imaginative ways exploited to achieve these goals, such as the accessories placement in the lounge, or the suggestive selling of related accessory products. Doing research and maintaining your vehicles with proper service schedules, will weed out any chance of you being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous dealer. Know your car!
If you're a tech, you essentially stay in the bay and rarely have to deal with anyone but your service manager and your servicewriter. The service writer is under pressure to "suggest" (it's all part of the dealership schooling) products or remind clients of the advantages of an extended warranty or a brake job service. I've never witnessed anything "shady" on the side of service but keep in mind, higher dealerservice fees as opposed to independent shops are what yours (and service personnel) salary's are based upon. (if anyone out there has ever wondered) The service manager is responsible for running the cashiers, his service writers, porters, lane greeters, and his BDC.
The shop foreman is really the person you will deal with directly if you are a tech. It is my opinion that the service side of the house has nothing to gain really by being duplicitous. That would definitely reduce credibility and increase liability.
The biggest issue of all, in fact, is the consumer in every type of business sometimes has outrageous unrealistic expectations that were perpetuated in the first place by the arse kissing mentality that is business the business mantra, "the customer is always right". Not necessarily. I had a client that would nickle and dime the dealer because he knew if he complained loud enough, they would relent. The fact that the U.S. is so litigious only compounds the problem. I've observed customers on many occasion, walk around with the perception that they are "entitled" (something for nothing, free is for me etc) due to the car they drive and naturally, that is how people in most CS positions will treat them. A perpetual cycle fostered by "the customer is always right"
btw..people in the u.s. Please do not come into your dealerships feeling all combative, Remember it isn't your service advisors fault that the car may need something. Cars are made of sheet metal and the tears of squirrels. Every marque/make is a mechanical device and these things will break. I've seen way too many of you, forget your maintenance schedules, run your tires down to the cords *(that's right, the belts INSIDE the rubber) forget oil, not read your manuals, spill drinks in your window switches then wonder why it needs a new switch assembly or even an actuator.. Your car's maintenance is your responsibility, not your sales advisor, nor service, nor the cashiers, nor the service manager.
Finally, if it's under warranty, it will be fixed. Period. If you know of an issue, don't put off maintenance until there is catastrophic failure or related failure to something else (i.e water pump or a simple vacuum hose that might need replacing. Keep your appointmets. Show up ON TIME, not 5 min later, not 10, not 20. (some don't even bother to show up) If you know you need to change it, please let your advisor know. It's common courtesy. There are other appointments OTHER than you.
Back to your regularly scheduled lives
junior 12:48PM (9/10/2007)
ROFL! That is SO true! The problem with owning any BMW in SoCal, but especially the 3 series, is that you'll never find your car because it is everywhere you go! It doesn't matter what color you choose! It's almost like the 3 series has replaced the Toyota Camry as the average person's car. I couldn't figure it out at first, but now that I know about the Starbuck's promotion, and the law, it totally makes sense! Seriously, though, the deals on the 3 series are ultra cheap anyway. About as much as a Corolla out here to lease.
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MosquitoControl 4:47PM (9/10/2007)
Can you get too much BMW? I was a bit afraid when the 1-series talk started years ago, but any fears I may have still had are long gone with the high 135. I'm getting no 318ti flashbacks.
So long as they keep making fun cars, no, there is no such thing as too much BMW.
I agree that, for my money, you can't beat German. Sure, they're far less reliable than the Japanese, but they've got soul. The Japanese cars are incredibly well designed and well made, they're just lacking in soul. I'll give up some reliability for that. Ok, maybe a lot of reliability in some cases...
Lastly, Northern NJ is much like SoCal when it comes to the 3 series. 3 series are to NJ as pickups are to everywhere else - any given road will have more of these than anything else. I find it oddly comforting.
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Ames Tiedeman 4:13PM (10/02/2007)
Cadillac is back...! Watch and see their sales roar!
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