BMW Malaysia achieves record sales over 8 month period

BMW Group Malaysia achieved record breaking sales of 3,711 cars from January-August this year for a 28 per cent growth over the 2,893 units sold during the same period last year. The sales includes the Motorrad and MINI, making Malaysia a key growth market for BMW, its managing director, Geoffrey Briscoe said today. The top seller has been the five series, followed by the three series. The trend in Malaysia was also in line with the 1,073,363 units sold worldwide, which is a 16.8 per cent improvement over the same period last year. \"We are expecting double digit growth for sales and production next year,\" he told a press conference to announce the sales figures here, today. As for the breakdown for sales in Malaysia, he said 40 per cent involved repeat customers and the rest, new. Corporate clients also increased to 20 per cent, from 12 per cent previously, on the strength of profitability in the bigger companies. Going forward, Briscoe said the company has also invested to ramp up production at the Kulim assembly plant by more than 70 per cent for 2011, with more than 5,000 vehicles anticipated to roll off the state-of-the art assembly line this year. BMW Malaysia is also mulling the idea of introducing new models at the plant. \"We are always exploring new models (to be assembled in Kulim) next year. There are three models now, the three series, five series and the X1 Sports Activity V (SAV), introduced last year,\" said Briscoe. He said in just the last twelve months, BMW Group Malaysia has welcomed many additions to its extensive network of dealers, including dedicated 4S facilities (Sales, Service, Systems and Spare-parts), Regas Premium Auto in Sarawak and FM Autohaus in Sabah. In the coming months, the premium automaker will have a new BMW 4S Centre by Tian Siang Premium Auto in Butterworth, as well as Chear Motorrad, a new BMW Motorrad dealership in the country. In terms of business strategy, BMW Group Malaysia\'s ongoing commitment is towards introducing BMW EfficientDynamics technologies throughout its entire product range. In particular, the continued availability of BMW Advanced Diesel models since 2009, has also led to the organisation becoming the premium automotive segment leader in emission standards whilst continuing to improve on vehicle driving dynamics and performance. \"We are the most sustainable car company in the world. So, it is only natural that the BMW Efficient Dynamics strategy, should be a cornerstone of our operations here in Malaysia,\" Briscoe said. He said more than 15 per cent of all BMW vehicles sold so far in 2011 are diesel-powered. BMW\'s Advanced Diesel engines provide up to 20 per cent more horsepower, 75 per cent more torque and up to 30 per cent efficiency in fuel consumption compared to its petrol equivalent. At the same time, it also generates 20 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2), thus significantly reducing the amount of harmful emissions introduced into the environment. Briscoe said the Malaysian government has made significant strides in embracing diesel technology with the introduction of B5 biodiesel and the imminent introduction of Euro 4M diesel in Malaysia. \"Additional steps still need to be taken to recognise and reward the green and sustainable benefits of diesel engines,\" he added.