Feb
12
M.Y. 2008 M3 Sedan Can’t Arrive Too Soon.
Paraphrasing (crudely) the seminal 80’s flick Wall Street: the rich may be bitching, but the super-rich ain’t.
All but the truly inflation proof are subject to the uneasy prospect of slowing markets this world round. And that maxim is coming home to the Roundel whose North American sales spun a little too long off the line - losing share to last year’s performance by 4.1%.
BMW’s press release admitted that the marque started the year with “a restrained start.”
That having been said, more of the very well-off took delivery of new Rolls-Royces than e’er before. Rolls sales were up a prosperous 64% (translating to 41 units) thanks to the new convertible.
Cheap ‘n cheerful (in this company at least) MINIs also faired well by jumping 13.3% over January last year.
This all means that for once, it was the British subsidiaries’ performance that drove share performance - not the hyper-efficient Teutons. Score two for Albion.
Still, BMW’s right to spin a positive sales outlook for the near future.
“In 2008, the BMW Group will once again maintain its top position as the world’s leading manufacturer of premium vehicles. We have once again taken on a great deal and are aiming to set new sales records for all three brands,” promised marketing man Stefan Krause.
With the impending intro of the oh-so hot 1-Series, the so/so M3 sedan, and the sure-to-be-at-every-soccer-match X6, he may just be right. Though, the BMW’s intake will be whatever the market will bear.
And there are only so many of the super-rich to go around.