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BMW Group Reports July 2008 Sales Up


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BMW Group US sales (BMW and MINI combined) up 2.2 percent in July.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Aug. 1 -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported July sales of 28,977 vehicles, an increase of 2.2 percent over the 28,364 vehicles sold in July 2007. The BMW Group also reported its year-to-date sales volume of 186,890 vehicles, down 3.0 percent compared to 192,702 vehicles in the same period of 2007.

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles dropped slightly by 1.6 percent to 23,914 compared to 24,295 units in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW brand sales are down 8 percent to 155,427 vehicles, compared to 168,874 vehicles sold in first seven months of 2007.

"While we see the premium segment being affected by the same economic conditions as the mainstream market, there continue to be less dramatic consequences in this segment," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC, commenting on BMW brand sales. "Buyers of our vehicles are still shopping and purchasing but are even more discerning to choose for long-term quality and value. In light of our corporate results announced today, we are going to strengthen our focus on profitability over the next 12 to 18 months by keeping the supply of vehicles in close alignment with demand, which in turn increases our pricing flexibility and brand value. Actions we are already taking include shifting our customer programs in our dealerships to achieve a more equitable balance of retail financing to leasing, further emphasizing the benefits of our four-year free maintenance program, and further developing our Certified Pre-Owned business to aid residual values."

BMW Automobile Sales

BMW's automobile sales are up 0.9 percent in July to 19,261 versus 19,083 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales are down 7.3 percent, to 122,783 automobiles compared to 132,478 in the same period of 2007.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales

Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased by 10.7 percent in July to 4,653 vehicles versus 5,212 sold last July. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles are down 10.3 percent, to 32,644 vehicles compared to the 36,396 sold in the first seven months of 2007.

MINI Brand Sales

In July MINI USA reported sales of 5,063 automobiles, a strong increase of 24.4 percent, from the 4,069 cars sold in July 2007. Year-to-date, the division reports sales of 31,463 automobiles, an increase of 32 percent, compared to the 23,828 cars reported in the first seven months of 2007.

"Again this month, we continue to watch a very large movement from larger to smaller vehicles. From the increased traffic in our dealerships, we are seeing desires to downsize but not downscale," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President MINI USA. "Over the last month, our MINI sales have also seen on average $4-5,000 of options in a typical sale. Therefore, at least in the premium end of the small car market, small size is not equating to small dollar sales."

  Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, July 2008

                         July     July       %      YTD       YTD        %
                         2008     2007              2008      2007

  BMW brand             23,914   24,295    -1.6   155,427   168,874    -8.0

   BMW passenger cars   19,261   19,083     0.9   122,783   132,478    -7.3

   BMW light trucks
   (SAVs)                4,653    5,212   -10.7    32,644    36,396   -10.3

  MINI brand             5,063    4,069    24.4    31,463    23,828    32.0

  TOTAL Group           28,977   28,364     2.2   186,890   192,702    -3.0

  BMW Certified Pre-Owned

Sales of BMW's Certified Pre-Owned vehicles reached its best July ever. Sales are up 11.4 percent, to 7,998 vehicles versus 7,178 vehicles reported last July. Year-to-date, CPO sales are up 21 percent, to 59,984 over the 49,562 reported in the same period in 2007.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

  www.bmwgroupna.com
  www.bmwusa.com
  www.bmwmotorcycles.com
  www.miniusa.com
  www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

                                                     YTD      YTD
                         July 08 July 07     %     July 08  July 07     %

  1 Series                 1,326       0          7,427.00        0
  3 Series                11,303  11,568   -2.3%    71,211   84,571  -15.8%
  Z4 Roadster and Coupe      459     844  -45.6%     4,116    5,420  -24.1%
  5 Series                 4,525   4,859   -6.9%    27,621   28,667   -3.6%
  6 Series                   642     723  -11.2%     4,218    5,190  -18.7%
  7 Series                 1,006   1,089   -7.6%     8,190    8,630   -5.1%
  BMW passenger cars      19,261  19,083    0.9%   122,783  132,478   -7.3%

  X3                       1,646   2,900  -43.2%    11,257   16,926  -33.5%
  X5                       2,597   2,312   12.3%    18,967   19,470   -2.6%
  X6                         410       0             2,420        0
  BMW light trucks (SAVs)  4,653   5,212  -10.7%    32,644   36,396  -10.3%
  BMW brand               23,914  24,295   -1.6%   155,427  168,874   -8.0%

  Cooper /S Hardtop        3,261   3,161    3.2%    21,335   19,016   12.2%
  Cooper /S Convertible      588     908  -35.2%     4,040    4,812  -16.0%
  Cooper /S Clubman        1,214       0             6,088        0
  MINI brand               5,063   4,069   24.4%    31,463   23,828   32.0%

  TOTAL BMW of North
   America, LLC           28,977  28,364    2.2%   186,890  192,702   -3.0%