National Press Release

BMW Group sales in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) down by 34.7 percent in February 2009 partially due to model year build outs

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported February sales of 15,805 vehicles, a decrease of 34.7 percent over the 24,190 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 30,119 vehicles, down 26.8 percent, compared to 41,125 vehicles in the same period of 2008.

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 37.5 percent in February for a total of 12,979 compared to 20,775 reported in the same month a year ago. BMW sales have been affected by the model build out of the 7 Series (new model launches this month) and the build out of the Z4 (new model launches in May). Year-to-date BMW brand sales were down 28.5 percent, to 25,211 vehicles compared to 35,250 vehicles sold in the same period a year ago.

"February was another downer for the whole market even though it was filled with compelling buys," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "While we assume our sales will be affected by the overall economic environment like others, we're now entering a period of a large number of returning lease customers and it's our challenge and opportunity to put them in a new BMW in the coming months and continue to increase our share of the premium market."

BMW Automobile Sales

BMW's automobile sales are down 32.1 percent in February to 10,776 versus 15,869 in the same month of 2008. Year-to-date sales also decreased 27.7 percent, to 19,473 automobiles compared to 26,922 in the first two months 2008.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales

Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased 55.1 percent in February to 2,203 vehicles over the 4,906 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 31.1 percent, to 5,738 vehicles compared to 8,328 sold in the same period a year ago.

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported sales of 2,826 automobiles, down 17.2 percent from the 3,415 cars sold in February 2008. The drop from last February was driven mainly by the build out phase of the MINI Convertible. The new model will go on sale in the US at the end of March. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 4,908 automobiles, a decrease of 16.5 percent, compared to the 5,875 cars reported in the first two months of 2008.

"The economy slowed so much in December and January that MINI felt the pain," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "In February however, sales were up 36 percent compared to January '09 and we're now seeing some who had been on the sidelines putting their feet back in the water shopping for cars as evidenced by increasing website traffic and online configurations being sent to dealers."

    Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, February 2009

                              Feb.     Feb.      %      YTD      YTD       %
                              2009     2008             2009     2008

    BMW brand               12,979   20,775   -37.5   25,211   35,250   -28.5
      BMW passenger cars    10,776   15,869   -32.1   19,473   26,922   -27.7
      BMW light trucks       2,203    4,906   -55.1    5,738    8,328   -31.1
       (SAVs)
    MINI brand               2,826    3,415   -17.2    4,908    5,875   -16.5
    TOTAL Group             15,805   24,190   -34.7   30,119   41,125   -26.8

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)

Sales of BMW's Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are up 12.5 percent, to 9,350 CPO vehicles versus 8,311 vehicles reported last February 2008. Year-to-date, CPO sales are up 23.9 percent, to 19,357 over the 15,624 reported in the same period of 2008.

    Sales BMW of North America, LLC, February 2009

                       Feb. 09 Feb. 08    %   YTD Feb. 09  YTD Feb. 08    %
    1 Series               853       0   N/A        1,569            0   N/A
    3 Series             6,414   8,943 -28.3%      11,427       15,787 -27.6%
    Z4 Roadster and
     Coupe                  21     524 -96.0%          66          887 -92.6%
    5 Series             3,191   4,442 -28.2%       5,787        7,213 -19.8%
    6 Series               287     458 -37.3%         591          823 -28.2%
    7 Series                10   1,502 -99.3%          33        2,212 -98.5%
    BMW passenger cars  10,776  15,869 -32.1%      19,473       26,922 -27.7%
    ------------------  ------  ------ -----       ------       ------ -----
    X3                     267   1,367 -80.5%         661        2,458 -73.1%
    X5                   1,686   3,539 -52.4%       4,561        5,870 -22.3%
    X6                     250       0   N/A          516            0   N/A
    BMW light trucks
     (SAVs)              2,203   4,906 -55.1%       5,738        8,328 -31.1%
    ----------------     -----   ----- -----        -----        ----- -----
    BMW brand           12,979  20,775 -37.5%      25,211       35,250 -28.5%
    ---------           ------  ------ -----       ------       ------ -----
    Cooper /S Hardtop    2,019   2,258 -10.6%       3,501        4,415 -20.7%
    Cooper /S
     Convertible            46     454 -89.9%          92          757 -87.8%
    Cooper /S Clubman      761     703   8.3%       1,315          703  87.1%
                                         ---                           ----
    MINI brand           2,826   3,415 -17.2%       4,908        5,875 -16.5%
    ----------           -----   ----- -----        -----        ----- -----
    TOTAL BMW of North
     America, LLC       15,805  24,190 -34.7%      30,119       41,125 -26.8%
    ------------------  ------  ------ -----       ------       ------ -----

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

www.bmwgroupna.com

www.bmwusa.com

www.bmwmotorcycles.com

www.miniusa.com

www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwgroup.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.

SOURCE BMW of North America, LLC