BMW 2006 Annual Report Download - page 144

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04
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to inform you that we have achieved our
objec-
tives for the year 2006 and, in fact, even exceeded some of
them. In the financial year 2006, the BMW Group confirmed
its position as the world’s leading premium manufacturer
in the automobile industry with record sales, revenues and
income.Thus, 2006 was the most successful year ever in
the Company’s history.
The 1,373,970 automobiles and 100,064 motorcycles
sold, as well as around 2.3 million contracts in place in the
Financial Services segment show that we were again able
to continue our growth course in 2006. Never before have
so many customers placed their trust in us. We are proud
of this and at the same time realise that it is our duty to earn
this trust anew each and every day with our automobiles,
motorcycles and financial services.
Our key financial data also improved last year. For the first
time in the Company’s history, our profit before tax exceeded
the four billion euro mark. Admittedly, book profit from the
exchangeable bond option relating to shares in Rolls-Royce
plc, London, gave us tailwind. However, even without this
special effect, our profit clearly tops that of the previous
year – despite the well-known adverse external factors
arising from negative currency effects and high prices for
raw materials.
We achieved all this only because all the employees in the
BMW Group work together as a team to attain our objec-
tives.They do so with a dedication and motivation, which
cannot be taken for granted. Therefore, my colleagues
on the Board of Management and I would like to express
our sincere thanks to all of them. Our dealer network and
business partners also contributed to the success of the
BMW Group in 2006 with great commitment. Their dedi-
cation and willingness to invest help to ensure that the
BMW Group will continue its growth course in the future.
Norbert Reithofer
Chairman of the Board of Management