The company’s CEO isn’t mincing any words either: “We will remain the world’s leading premium car company. … We remain very confident about the business year 2014.” BMW expects to sell more than 2 million vehicles worldwide in 2014.
Globally, BMW sold 1.66 million BMW-branded units in 2013, up 7.5% year-over-year. The company’s 3 Series was the best-selling luxury brand and generated global sales of 462,740 units, according to research firm Focus2Move. The Audi A4 sold 335,137 units globally in 2013 and the BMW 5 Series sold 334,382 units. The Mercedes C class sold 303,787 units globally.
By geography, Europe is BMW’s leading market, and the company sold nearly 860,000 units there in 2013. Sales in Asia topped 500,000 for the first time ever, and sales in China rose 19.7% to 391,713 units. U.S. sales rose 8.1% to 376,636 units, including all models and brands.
The best-selling luxury brand last year in the United States was Mercedes-Benz, with sales of 334,344 units, according to Kelley Blue Book. BMW sales came in at 309,280 units. Lexus, the luxury brand from Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM), was the third-best seller with U.S. sales of 273,847 units.
The Cadillac brand from General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) sold 182,543 units in the United States, and the Acura luxury cars brand from Honda Motor Corp. (NYSE: HMC) sold 165,436. Volkswagen’s Audi sold 158,061 units, and Nissan’s Infiniti brand sold 116,455.
BMW shares were up about 7.5% on the XETRA exchange, at €86.79 in a 52-week range of €63.27 to €87.16.
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