BMW 2011 Annual Report Download - page 29

29 COMBINED GROUP AND COMPANY MANAGEMENT REPORT
future generations of engines. Over the coming three
years, approximately € 600 million will be invested in the
MINI production network (Oxford, Hams Hall and
Swindon).
We are also continually investing in the Rolls-Royce
plant in Goodwood, England. The manufacturing area
is to be expanded in response to the general high de-
mand for the Rolls-Royce brand and in particular for
customised models under the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Bespoke Programme.
The expansion of capacities at our Spartanburg plant in
the USA was completed during the year under report.
In total, 276,065 units of the BMW X family were pro-
duced there, establishing a new volume record. With an
export ratio of approximately 70 %, the Spartanburg
plant is the USA's largest exporter of cars to non-NAFTA
countries. Based on the assessment of the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA), the plant achieved
fourth place in the rankings for major users of renewa-
ble energy, demonstrating the great importance placed
on the issue of sustainability in Spartanburg.
The BMW plant in Rosslyn saw the 300,000th
fifth-gen-
eration BMW 3 Series vehicle roll off the production lines
in April 2011. Almost 56,000 car bodies were produced
at this site in 2011, setting a new record for the South
African plant. The figure includes more than 2,500 car
bodies bound for the assembly plant in India. Further-
more, preparations for the production start of the sixth-
generation BMW 3 Series in 2012 were also initiated
during the year under report.
Production is also in full swing at the Dadong* plant in
Shenyang, China. More than 98,000 BMW vehicles were
produced there in 2011 and the plant is thus working
at
full capacity. Back in 2009 we announced our intention
to increase capacities in China and construction at the
Tiexi* site progressed according to schedule during
the year under report. The assembly building, the body
shop
and the energy building have already been com-
pleted. The press shop and painting building are cur-
rently still under construction. The official opening of
the plant is scheduled for 2012. The production capacity
of the existing Dadong plant will rise to more than
100,000 vehicles p. a. and that of the new Tiexi plant will
be increased in the medium term to produce 200,000
vehicles p. a.
* Joint Venture BMW Brilliance
Increase in motorcycle sales volume
The Motorcycles segment’s worldwide sales volume rose
by 3.1 % to 113,572 units in 2011 (2010: 110,113 units).
The BMW brand in particular performed extremely well
despite the difficult market environment. The number
of BMW motorcycles sold rose to 104,286 units (+ 6.4 %),
giving BMW Motorrad its best sales volume performance
to date. Sales of Husqvarna motorcycles fell by 23.0 %
(9,286 units) as a
result of a slump in the off-road market
and restructuring measures at the level of the Husq-
varna brand.
Sales increased in most markets
Sales of BMW and Husqvarna motorcycles in Europe
were on a par with the previous year’s high level (75,073
units; + 0.7 %). Performance in Germany was particu-
larly strong, with motorcycle sales in 2011 up by 15.7 %
to 21,119 units. Sales volume also rose in France com-
pared to the previous year, with the number of
motor-
cycles sold going up by 5.1 % to 10,243 units. By contrast,
sales figures were down in Italy (15,304 units; – 9.8 %),
Spain (6,345 units; – 12.1 %) and Great Britain (6,276
units; – 7.7 %). 11,981 motorcycles were sold in the USA,
7.4 % more than one year earlier. The figure contrasts
with the sales performance in Japan, where the number
of motorcycles sold dropped by 17.9 % to 2,786 units.
The fastest growth rate (+ 53.1 %) was registered in Brazil,
where the BMW Group sold 5,442 motorcycles.
Numerous new motorcycle models
The BMW Group continued to expand its range of models
in the Motorcycles segment in 2011. The K 1600 GT and
MOTORCYCLES SEGMENT
BMW Group – key motorcycle markets 2011
as a percentage of sales volume
Germany 18.6 Spain 5.6
Italy 13.5 Great Britain 5.5
USA 10.5 Other 37.3
France 9.0
Germany
Italy
USA
France
Spain
Great Britain
Other