BMW 2005 Annual Report Download - page 22

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More than 2,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom
manufactured to date
692 Rolls-Royce Phantom were manufactured at
Goodwood, England, in 2005. This means that more
than 2,000 vehicles have been manufactured there
since production started at the beginning of 2003.
Specific customer wishes, such as individualised
colours or special types of wood, place special de-
mands on production. Depending on personal
preferences, it is possible to integrate wine storage
facilities, safes, humidors, computer equipment and
many other features. On average, bespoke options
are integrated in approximately 70% of all vehicles;
in some markets, such as Japan, the proportion is
as high as 90%.
BMW Group – the first automobile enterprise
to be awarded the Ludwig-Erhard prize
The BMW Group’s chassis and powertrain compo-
nent production facilities, located in Dingolfing
(chassis and axle drives), Landshut (cardan shafts)
and Berlin (brake disks), were awarded the Ludwig-
Erhard prize in 2005. The BMW Group is the first
enterprise in the automobile industry to have won
this prize; it is the highest award in Germany for
comprehensive corporate quality. The prize is pre-
sented in recognition of outstanding management
achievements relating to the promotion of com-
petitiveness, employee and customer satisfaction,
social responsibility and careful use of resources.
The Ludwig-Erhard prize has been awarded
since 1997 to enterprises and organisations in Ger-
many which have achieved a leading position inter-
nationally.This is not only based on their technical
and business achievements, but also, above all,
be-
cause of a sustainable business strategy, which must
have been put into practice for at least three years
in succession. One important factor here is con-
sideration of stakeholder interests – whether they
be customers, employees, shareholders, business
partners or other interested parties. The Ludwig-
Erhard prize especially emphasises a particularly
customer-friendly approach and a corporate culture
based on partnership.
Motorcycle segment back on growth course
The BMW Group recorded a sharp volume growth in
its motorcycle business in 2005, with unit sales in-
creasing by 5.6% to 97,474 motorcycles. The main
contributors to the sales volume increase were the
R1200 GS and the models introduced in 2005 as
part of the product initiative, namely the R1200 RT
and the K1200 S.
Inconsistent market development in 2005
The sales volume of BMW motorcycles was up in
the majority of markets in Western Europe in 2005.
The development was particularly positive in Spain
where sales of BMW motorcycles increased by
48.1% to 8,003 units. Also noteworthy are the
volume increases in the United Kingdom/Ireland
(+21.7% to 5,651 units) and in Italy (+11.4% to
12,700 units).
By contrast, sales figures for Germany, the largest
market for BMW motorcycles, declined: 24,064 BMW
motorcycles were sold here in the face of a difficult
business environment. This was 9.1% lower than
in the previous year and reflects the continual con-
tradiction of the market. The BMW Group was able
BMW Group – key motorcycle markets 2005
as a percentage of sales volume
Germany
USA
Italy
Spain
France
United Kingdom
Other
13.124.7
5.8
8.1
8.2
13.0
27.1