German luxury carmakers posted record global
sales last year amid soaring demand for premium cars, ranging from
Audi to Rolls-Royce, in the United States, China and the Middle East.
The Munich-based BMW Group said Thursday it saw an 11.6 per cent
surge in sales of its flagship brand, with 1.54 million units sold
worldwide. In December alone sales jumped 18.8 per cent compared to
the previous year.
The company, whose brands includes Mini and Rolls-Royce, said
group sales climbed by 10.6 per cent to a record 1.85 million units.
Rolls-Royce achieved the highest sales level in its 108-year
history, with 3,575 cars sold in 2012, 1 per cent more than the
previous year.
BMW rival Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group, said it sold 1.45
million units last year, marking a 12 per cent hike in sales.
Stuttgart-based Mercedes Benz has also reported its best ever
annual sales last week. The company said deliveries were up 4.5 per
cent to 1.423 million.
"We enter the new year with positive momentum and despite the
prevailing headwinds in some markets, we aim to achieve another
record year in sales in 2013," said BMW sales chief Ian Robertson.
"This year marks the beginning of a new era for the BMW Group, as
we launch the all-electric BMW i3 towards the end of the year."
BMW Group sales in Asia soared by 31.6 per cent last year, powered
by a 40.4-per-cent increase in China over the previous year, the
carmaker said.
About a quarter of Audi's overall 2012 global sales was generated
in China, where it increased by 30 per cent, the company said. China
is now Audi's biggest single market.
In the US, BMW group sales climbed by 13.8 per cent to 347,583
units and Audi by about one fifth.
Despite Europe's long-running debt crisis, sales in BMW's biggest
market gained 0.8 per cent in 2012. Audi posted a 1.8-per-cent gain
in Europe.
In London, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive Torsten
Mueller-Oetvoes said 2012 had seen a "fascinating" recovery of the
market in the US, which had overtaken China to regain top position on
the regional league table.
Sales of luxury Rolls-Royce models to the Middle East grew by 26
per cent, while Europe saw an increase of 21 per cent, and 18 per
cent more cars were sold to the Asia-Pacific region.
"We had an outstanding year in spite of the challenges we faced,
and Rolls-Royce now leads the ultra luxury market by some
considerable margin," said Mueller-Oetvoes.
The majority of cars, including the popular Phantom and Ghost
models, had been sold with some elements of bespoke personalization,
reflecting record demand for the company's "legendary
hand-craftsmanship and attention to detail."
Rolls-Royce remained a "great British brand," with every model
produced "a piece of art," its chief executive said.
