BMW car sales up 13.2 percent from year ago

Photo: BMW car sales up 13.2 percent from year ago

BMW AG announced 13.2 rise in global sales from last year – with demand on Mini and higher for its luxury cars, car maker said Friday.

It sold 129,460 BMWs, Minis and Rolls-Royce models last month, with its 3-Series leading the push and accounting for more than 40 percent of sales, the company said. That is more than the 114,331 it sold last year.

By brand, 110,247 BMW models were sold last month, up 9 percent from November 2006, the company said.

Mini sales, including the new Clubman model, pushed sales more than 42.4 percent higher last month, with 19,078 cars sold, up from the 13,402 sold in November 2006. Sales of its expensive and luxurious Rolls-Royce autos rose 50 percent with 135 sold, compared to 90 a year earlier.

The only slip came in motorcycle sales with the company reporting 5,980 sold in November, down nearly 6 percent from the 6,354 sold in November 2006.

For the year to date, the company said it is has sold nearly 1.35 million vehicles, up 8.3 percent from the 1.24 million cars sold in the first 11 months of 2006, putting it on track to reach its goal of more than 1.4 million cars sold this year.

"Despite the difficult market conditions, we are approaching the target for 2007 at top speed," said Stefan Krause, who oversees sales and marketing for the Munich-based company.

Shares of BMW were up 1.6 percent to EUR41.78 (US$60.81) in Frankfurt trading.