International Dealer News IDN 141 February/March 2018 | Page 13

news ROOM
BMW - seventh
consecutive
all-time sales high
BMW has reported that its 2017
worldwide deliveries of motorcycles
and scooters increased by +13.2% to
164,153 vehicles, with strong sales
growth in Europe and Asia.
The strongest growth was recorded in
Europe in 2017, where an all-time
high was achieved – growth was
driven by France (16,607 units / +24.3
%), Italy (14,430 units / +17.3 %),
Spain (11,193 units / +17.6 %) and
the UK / IE (9,550 units / +8.7 %).
Overall around +15.0 % more vehicles
were delivered in Europe than in 2016.
Their Asian market also continues to
grow - China and Japan are among the
Asian markets with the strongest
double-digit growth. In India the BMW
Group’s own sales subsidiary has
begun successfully selling BMW
motorcycles.
Germany is once again the largest
single market for BMW Motorrad at
+7.1 percent / 26,664 units sold;
making it the leading brand in market
share terms in its home market.
For the first time, more than 50,000
units of the two R 1200 GS and GS
Adventure travel enduros were sold;
sales of the traditionally strong R
Series increased significantly overall;
and thanks to the new R nineT model
variants (“Pure”, “Racer” and “Urban
G/S”) sales in the flat twin boxer
segment increased strongly by +9.6%
to a total of 86,090 motorcycles.
Worldwide, the sports-oriented BMW
S Series with the S 1000 RR
Supersports bike, the S 1000 R Power
Roadster and the S 1000 XR
Adventure bike sold 21,752 units in
2017 (13.3 percent of all BMW units
sold). Introduced in 2017 and
described as an “agile all-rounder”,
11,595 units of the G 310 R and G 310
GS models were sold, with demand
reported to be strong in Europe, South
America and Asia.
Sales of the 6-cylinder models “are
also developing very positively. Already
in its first year of sales, the K 1600
Bagger, which is aimed especially at
the US market, is proof of the unbroken
trend towards large-capacity,
emotional touring bikes”.
Timo Resch, BMW Motorrad Head of
Sales and Marketing, said: “With
6,719 units sold and a 50% increase
in sales, our 6-cylinder models are
among the big winners of 2017. After
Germany, the USA will remain an
important market for BMW Motorrad
in the coming years, too. We will
continue to increase our involvement
in this important market in order to
strengthen BMW Motorrad’s position
there.
“We are also responding to the special
US market requirements with the K
1600 Grand America recently
presented at the Milan motorcycle
show by also consistently expanding
our sales structure. In 2017 we proved
ourselves to be the innovative leader
in many areas.
“The exclusive HP4 RACE with its
lightweight carbon fibre frame and
wheels attracted great attention. We
also responded to the need for
increasing digitalisation expressed by
customers – launching our
multifunctional instrument cluster
with 6.5 inch full-colour TFT display,
featuring a wide range of navigation
and communication functions. This
feature is now being rolled out to
further models too.
“We expect to see further growth in
sales for our vehicles in 2018, and we
are looking forward to seeing the
demand for the completely new F 750
GS and F 850 GS and the much-
anticipated C 400 X midsize scooter.
Expanding our urban mobility product
range is a key sector for the future of
BMW Motorrad”.
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
13