| The Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, popularly | | | | Reithofer said in April. Additionally, BMW will |
| known as the BMW AG, is the world's largest | | | | introduce the Mini Clubman and a new Rolls-Royce |
| premium carmaker and it increased sales by | | | | car this year. |
| seven percent to 128,408 vehicles in May. The | | | | Audi's sales rose more than ten percent last |
| increase in sales is helped by a sharp rise in | | | | month to more than 87,000 vehicles, a record, as |
| demand for the X5 sport-utility vehicle and the | | | | demand surged in China and in the United States. |
| revamped Mini, the company announced last | | | | The relaunch of its popular X5 offroader as well |
| Friday. | | | | as the 3 Series coupe and cabrio derivatives |
| The sales of its core BMW brand increased 5.8 | | | | should help spur growth this year, BMW has said. |
| percent to 108,488 units, while Mini deliveries rose | | | | "Demand for these models is above |
| just over 14 percent to 19,864 cars. The | | | | expectations," the company said in a statement, |
| deliveries helped the company's retro-styled model | | | | saying deliveries of the 3 Series coupe had nearly |
| to break the one million mark in sales since its | | | | quadrupled versus a year ago and the cabrio |
| introduction to the market in mid-2001. The | | | | model more than doubled. |
| automaker overtook DaimlerChrysler AG's | | | | The X5, a midsize luxury crossover SUV, |
| Mercedes division as the world's biggest luxury-car | | | | features all wheel drive and a line of straight-6 |
| maker two years ago with the debut of the | | | | and V8 engines. For non-US models, the vehicle |
| 1-Series small car, the X3 SUV and a new version | | | | features the 3.0 L diesel engine mated to a BMW |
| of the 3-Series sedan. | | | | cold air intake. The 3 Series, on the other hand, is |
| In the first five months of 2007, deliveries of | | | | an entry-level luxury car manufactured by the |
| BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles rose by | | | | German automaker since 1975. In 2005, the 3 |
| 2.1 percent amounting to 580,043 units. BMW | | | | Series is the company's best selling luxury sedan |
| Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer has forecast | | | | in the United States with 98,000 units sold. |
| overall group sales will rise at a high-single-digit | | | | BMW has also refreshed the 1 Series compact |
| percentage rate in 2007 to over 1.4 million | | | | and 5 Series full-sized models in March and rolled |
| vehicles, with all three brands posting delivery | | | | out a 3-door version of the 1 Series last month. |
| records. BMW-brand sales rose 5.8 percent from | | | | By comparison, smaller rival Audi earlier this week |
| a year earlier to 108,488 units, while Mini sales | | | | reported a ten percent increase in deliveries to |
| increased 14 percent to 19,864 cars. The | | | | some 87,000 units, as VW's premium brand |
| automaker sold 56 Rolls-Royce super-luxury cars | | | | maintained its average monthly sales growth rate |
| however that seems unchanged from a year ago. | | | | of about ten percent this year. The sales are |
| BMW introduced the new X5 and Mini at the end | | | | sustained by the demand for its new Q7 sport |
| of 2006. The company expects sales to reach a | | | | utility vehicle. |
| record of at least 1.4 million vehicles this year, | | | | |