By Friedrich Geiger
BERLIN-- BMW AG sold more than 2 million cars in a year for the
first time last year, confirming its position as the world's
leading premium auto maker despite increasingly stiff competition
in the growing market for luxury cars and sport-utility
vehicles.
The Munich-based manufacturer said deliveries of its BMW, Mini
and Rolls-Royce brands rose 7.9% last year to 2.12 million cars,
helped by strong demand for new and restyled models, particularly
in Asia. BMW sold 1.96 million cars in 2013.
Sales of BMW's larger vehicles, like its new BMW X4 and revamped
X5 SUVs and Rolls-Royce limousines, more than offset a decline in
sales at its MINI small-car brand whose lineup BMW has only
recently refreshed.
The car maker said that it is ramping up production of its i8
electric sports car at its Leipzig plant. BMW delivered around
17,800 of electric i3 compact and i8 models in 2014.
In December alone, the German group delivered 215,217 cars to
customers, 15% more than a year earlier.
BMW's buoyant sales follow a similar record-breaking performance
by smaller German rival Porsche, a unit of Volkswagen AG, which
Thursday reported a 17% rise in annual sales.
The BMW brand delivered 1.81 million cars to customers last
year, an increase of 9.5%. Sport-utility vehicles contributed to
the growth, including the new X4 and the revamped X5 models.
Mini sales declined 0.9% last year to 302,183 cars. The
Rolls-Royce brand sold a record number 4,063 cars, a 12% increase.
Sales of BMW motorcycles rose 7%.
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