(September 9, 2011) — With 110,891 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles sold worldwide in August  — up 7.4 percent from August 2010 — the BMW Group achieved its best-ever August sales.

BMW Group worldwide sales crossed the one million mark in August, with 1,073,363 vehicles delivered to customers since the beginning of the year, an increase of 16.8% compared with the first eight months of the previous year.

"We achieved record sales once again in August. Models such as the BMW X3, the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 5 Series Touring continued to report strong gains and made a positive contribution to our record sales performance last month," said Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales and
Marketing. 

"Looking ahead, we are confident that we are in a good position with balanced growth across the world and a young, attractive portfolio, including the new BMW 1 Series which goes on sale this month. We expect our growth to increase to double-digit figures in September and we are absolutely on track to achieve our goal of over 1.6 million vehicle sales in 2011."

BMW brand worldwide sales increased by 7.8% in August to 94,882 vehicles. From January to August 2011, 893,474 BMW brand vehicles were delivered, which was 15.2% higher than for the same period in the previous year.

The new BMW X3 continued its sales momentum with strong sales in August. Worldwide sales surged 131.8% to 9,123 units. Year-to-date, 72,407 units have been sold, an increase of 125.6% over the same period in 2010. Demand for the BMW 5 Series Sedan and Touring remains strong. Over 200.000 units have been sold since the beginning of the year. With worldwide sales of 22,514 vehicles in August the BMW 5 Series remains the clear leader in its segment.

MINI brand sales climbed 5.2% to 15,761 vehicles worldwide in August. Sales for MINI have increased 24.8% to 177,829 vehicles in the first eight months of 2011. In August the brand reached another milestone — the two millionth MINI was produced in Oxford. The launch of another Oxford-produced MINI next month, the MINI Coupé, is expected to provide further impetus for the brand. MINI is also expected to return to double-digit growth in worldwide sales next month.

In the U.S. the BMW Group reported August sales of 23,924 vehicles, an increase of 6.5% from August 2010. Year-to-date, the BMW brand continues to lead the premium segment in the U.S. and is 12% up with sales of 155,929 vehicles compared to 139,236 sold in the first eight months of 2010. Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 26.7% to 37,636 vehicles.