The BMW Group continued its successful course in September with another record month in sales. With 189,675 (prev. yr. 177,726) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles delivered worldwide, sales were 6.7% higher than in the same month last year. In the first nine months of 2013, sales increased by 7.5% to the new all-time high of 1,436,178 vehicles (prev. yr. 1,335,502).

BMW brand worldwide sales climbed by 7.6% to 158,029 vehicles in the month under review (prev. yr. 146,852). Growth was primarily driven by the BMW 3 Series, which amounted to 44,752 vehicles, an increase of 13.9% on the previous year (39,304).

Year-to-date, the BMW brand has delivered 1,209,598 vehicles, an increase of 9.0% on the same period in 2012 (1,109,962). Demand for the BMW X1 remained strong with 116,451 vehicles sold in the first nine months, an increase of 13.6% on the previous year (102,519). The BMW X1 has proven to be yet another success story for the BMW Group with over 500,000 units delivered to customers since its launch at the end of 2009. The BMW 3 Series increased sales by 27.6% year-to-date, with a total of 365,772 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 286,622). Sales of the BMW X3 continued to be strong, climbing 5.7% to 113,945 vehicles (prev. yr. 107,833).

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The BMW 5 Series reaffirmed its clear segment leadership with 270,902 units sold (prev. yr. 263,738/ +2.7%) and the BMW 6 Series continued to perform well with 20,360 vehicles delivered year-to-date (prev. yr. 16,607/ +22.6%).

MINI posted its best ever September sales with 31,313 vehicles delivered worldwide (prev. yr. 30,563/ +2.5%). The brand recorded growth in several of its key markets including the U.S. (5,306/ +8.3%), Mainland China (2,740/ +4.1%) and Japan (1,700/ +5.7%). MINI also had its most successful first nine months ever, despite continued headwinds in Europe. In the period up to and including September, MINI sold 224,280 vehicles (prev. yr. 223,214/ +0.5%).

Sales of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the first three quarters of the year totalled 2,300 units (prev. yr. 2,326/ -1.1%). Strong performances were seen in China and the Middle East, although some markets, particularly in mainland Europe, remained challenging. Pleasing global sales were seen in September (333/ +7.1%) with third quarter sales up 13.6% (825) on last year. This growth, together with the overwhelmingly positive response to the new Rolls-Royce Wraith, reflects the cautious optimism that was expressed by Rolls-Royce at the beginning of the year. A strong finish to 2013 is anticipated.

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In Asia, sales grew by 18.0% in September to 54,014 vehicles (prev. yr. 45,782). The BMW Group made strong gains in Asia in the first nine months of the year, with sales climbing 17.8% to 421,456 vehicles (prev. yr. 357,841). The company achieved robust growth in Mainland China, which accounted for 35,804 deliveries in September, an increase of 20.8% over the same month in the previous year (29,631). Year-to-date, 284,964 BMW and MINI vehicles have been sold in Mainland China (prev. yr. 237,056) which reflects an increase of 20.2%. The BMW Group posted solid gains in other Asian markets in the first nine months of the year, including Japan (46,502/ +10.8%) and South Korea (29,409/ +19.8%).

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In the Americas, the BMW Group delivered 36,889 vehicles in September (prev. yr. 34,050/ +8.3%). Since the beginning of the year, 325,078 vehicles were delivered to customers in the Americas, which is an increase of +11.8% on the previous year (290,888). The BMW Group in the U.S. reported September sales of 28,874 vehicles (prev. yr. 26,660/ +8.3%). Year-to-date, company sales in the U.S. are up 11.6% with a total of 262,200 vehicles sold, compared to 234,928 in the same period in 2012.

In Europe, BMW Group sales in September were slightly above last year’s level with a total of 93,073 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 92,450/ +0.7%). In the first nine months, BMW Group sales remained at last year’s level, with a total of 641,195 vehicles delivered (prev. yr. 639,828/ +0.2%).