More May sales numbers from MINI (from MINI Press):

The MINI brand worldwide is convincingly continuing its sustained growth course. In May, the increase in sales was 14.2% to 17,511 automobiles (previous year: 15,327), and for the period ending May, the figure is plus 11.7% to 88,459 (previous year: 79,197). Michael Ganal: “No other small car is so successful worldwide as the MINI and no other can demonstrate such sustained sales growth over its model cycle.” With 20,721 cars sold, almost a quarter of sales volume was accounted for by the convertible version in the first five months of 2005. In May, the convertible actually accounts for a third of sales, with 4,449 open-top MINI sold.

Here’s some further information on worldwide sales of the BMW Group:

BMW Group sales rose in May by 7.5% compared with the same month last year to 113,626 automobiles (previous year: 105,681). For the period up to and including May, the number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles delivered to customers rose by 8.4% to 517,184 (previous year: 477,098). This means that the company has broken the 500,000 vehicle barrier as early as May for the first time in its history.

In terms of sales volume, the rankings of the top three markets for the period to the end of May were as follows: Germany comes in first place, with sales of 121,040 automobiles (previous year: 111,595/+8.5%), closely followed by the USA, with 117,844 vehicles sold (previous year: 115,737/+1.8%). In third place comes the UK, where the number of cars delivered rose by 6.1% to 62,494 (previous year: 58,905). The highest absolute growth rate in Western Europe was recorded by Portugal with an increase of 47.8% to 3,617 (previous year: 2,447). Amongst the volume markets, Spain grew particularly dynamically, increasing by 23.3% to 22,713 automobiles (previous year: 18,425). In the American markets, Argentina, with plus 56.0% growth, is the front-runner (599/ previous year: 384); in Asia, this position is taken by Malaysia with plus 42.9% (1,405/ previous year: 983).

The BMW brand increased sales in May by 6.4% to 96,061 units (previous year: 90,290). For the months up to and including May, the increase is 7.8% to 428,489 BMW automobiles (previous year: 397,631). Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing: “With these figures, we are ahead of our relevant competitors in the first five months. This applies for absolute and percentage growth and for overall volume.”

All the model series have played a part in this development. The new models have been launched very successfully in the markets. For example, 40,834 of the new BMW 3 Series saloon, which is now available in the American markets and in Asia and thus worldwide have been sold since the market launch at the beginning of March. The popularity in the market of the BMW 1 Series proves that the entry into the compact class has succeeded with this premium product: in the first five months of 2005, 60,746 vehicles have already been sold.