BMW 2002 Annual Report Download - page 16

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2002 to 54,050 units, an increase of 11.9% com-
pared to the previous year.
The last BMW Z3 Roadster rolled off the
pro-
duction line at the Spartanburg plant at the end of
June 2002. During the seven years of production,
almost 300,000 of these vehicles were delivered to
customers.
The new BMW Z4 was launched on the North
American market in autumn 2002. Up to the end of
2002, more than 3,800 vehicles of this model were
delivered to customers. The model will be launched
on other markets in spring 2003.
The BMW 5 Series achieved an above-average
performance in relation to its product life cycle.
Sales of 172,323 vehicles in 2002 were only 11.1%
below the previous years level. Particular mention
should be made of the sales performance in the USA
where the BMW 5 Series still managed to achieve
growth of 2.1% in 2002.
Sales of the BMW X5 were also very positive.
For the first time, more than 100,000 of these Sports
Activity Vehicles were sold worldwide. Worldwide
sales increased by 22.1% to 100,906 units.The USA ,
with sales of 42,742 units (+5.2%) was the strongest
market for the BMW X5.
Demand for the new BMW 7 Series remains
encouraging. In the first year after the model change,
a total of 50,961 vehicles were sold.The sales vol-
ume of the new BMW 7Series in the first full year
of production was around 4% better than that
achieved by the predecessor model in the equiva-
lent period.
In addition, 2,543 vehicles of the BMW 7 Series
predecessor model were sold, so that the total sales
volume of the BMW 7Series was 53,504 units.
This figure was achieved in spite of the fact that, in
keeping with launch planning, only eight-cylinder
petrol versions were available on the market through-
out the greatest part of the reporting period.The top
model, with a twelve-cylinder engine, has been in-
troduced at the end of 2002. The introduction of the
diesel
versions in autumn 2002 is expected to gen-
erate further demand.In the last full year of availability
of the predecessor model, more than 40% of sales
in Western Europe were diesels.
During 2002, 1,106 BMW Z8 cars, hand-finished
at the BMW plant in Munich, were delivered to cus-
tomers.
BMW diesel models have become increasingly
popular over the years: the annual sales volume has
increased by more than 150% over the last five
years, achieving 245,917 units in 2002. On a world-
wide basis, almost 27% of all BMW cars delivered
in 2002 were powered by diesel engines.
In Europe, 45% of all BMW customers chose a
car with a diesel engine. In the case of the BMW X5,
the percentage in Europe stood at 67%.
MINI launched successfully on worldwide
markets
With the MINI brand, the BMW Group has success-
fully established a market position for
apremium car
in the small car sector. A total of 144,119
MINI cars
were sold worldwide in 2002, well beyond the ex-
pectations of the BMW Group. Following the suc-
cessful
launch in markets outside Europe, MINI brand
cars are now available in more than 70 markets
around the world.The development in North America
is particularly pleasing. After an excellent start in 2002,
the USA , with sales of 24,590 cars, has already
become the second most important sales market
for
the MINI brand cars after the United Kingdom. In
the lead-up to the Detroit Auto Show this year, the
MINI exceeds all expectations.
BMW 3 Series with record sales volume.
Demand for diesel models increases again.
Above-average growth in Asia.
Deliveries of BMW diesel automobiles
in 1,000 units
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
98 99 00 01
91.8
135.5
188.5 216.8
02
245.9