BMW 2013 Annual Report Download - page 15

15 STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
Dear Shareholders,
Our vision at the BMW Group focuses on long-term thinking, successfully charting our own course and
leading the way for our industry.
Four straight record years for the BMW Group. For years, we have stood at the pinnacle of the world’s
automotive premium segment. Even during the 2008 / 2009 global financial and economic crisis, we reported
a profit and paid a dividend. Since then, the BMW Group has enjoyed four consecutive record years. Investors
in our Company can look forward to long-term value enhancement and our shareholders can rely on us to
achieve profitable growth – even in the face of high volatility and challenges in our business environment.
For
this reason,
we continue to invest in our future, in all areas of individual mobility. For us as a premium manu-
facturer, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are key towards growing and creating new trends.
2013 financial year – the success continues. Our vehicles are more desirable than ever: we delivered
more than 1.96 million BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars to customers in 2013, exceeding the previous year’s
record by 6.4 %. Individually, our three automobile brands also posted record sales, with more than
1.65 mil-
lion BMW, over 305,000 MINI and exactly 3,630 Rolls-Royce motor cars sold. We offer customers
a full
spectrum of
premium products – from MINI in the small car segment to Rolls-Royce in the ultra-luxury class.
Our core BMW brand represents sheer driving pleasure: the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series
models
and the BMW X1 are all leaders in their respective segments. The BMW brand also comprises efficient high- per-
formance models from BMW M and the particularly sustainable vehicles of the BMW i family, with the
BMW i3 and, from 2014, the BMW i8.
BMW Motorrad, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, delivered more than 115,200 motorcycles
to customers. In the shrinking market segment above 500 cc, BMW Motorrad defied the trend, posting sig-
nificant growth and beating the previous year’s sales by 8.3 per cent. The Financial Services segment, with
operations in more than 50 countries, also continues to grow and made a significant contribution to our sales
and earnings in 2013.
Valuable premium brands and desirable products and services are the foundation for our business success.
Group profit before tax increased by 1.4 % to around € 7.9 billion in 2013, reaching the same level as our 2012
record year, as forecast. Net profit rose by 4.5 % to more than € 5.3 billion.
These results reflect the day-to-day performance, know-how and personal commitment of our employees
worldwide. All of us at the BMW Group share a passion for mobility. We identify with our Company and its
products. All business areas performed well in 2013. On behalf of the Board of Management, I would like to
thank all our employees for their dedication. I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our retail
organisation, suppliers and partners, who all contribute to the success of the BMW Group.
Balanced growth a key ingredient for success. Our Company has its roots in Munich and in Germany.
But, today, the BMW Group is a global company that sells its products in more than 140 countries. Our
vehicles are produced at 28 locations in 13 countries. At all our locations, we take our corporate responsibility
seriously.