[AndreyATC]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

YTD
Benz - 203,167
BMW - 188,987

But, you never know BMW could fluff the numbers again like last year.

No.
You are not supposed to count Smarts and Sprinters
Just like BMW is not counting Mini
Otherwise it would be 233K for BMW vs 203K for MB
It's all about to claim the title for #1 luxury brand in US

[SamS]

Originally Posted by greekcs

Do sales include vehicles ordered but not yet delivered?

Unlikely. To be counted as a sale, the car must be paid for in full. Unless you wrote a check for the entire amount of the vehicle yet-to-be-delivered, it shouldn't be counted.

[FLOMACKS]

Originally Posted by positiveions

X1 sales is the factor here

Yep. 1 time bump. Probably some 6 series gran coupe units propping up that number too.

[kmarei]

Man the Z4 really is a tiny player in the total picture
Slowest selling model of both brands (BMW and mini)
X1 is selling like hot cakes

[OnlyTruth]

Originally Posted by eMvy

From a pure business standpoint, this is impressive, but unless you’re simply a shareholder, I’m not sure why everyone gets so excited over news like this.

It doesn't correlate with the overwhelming number of complaints regarding brand dilution, whoring out the M badge, and in general, BMW losing its way as the ultimate driving machine.

Originally Posted by eMvy

Understood, which is why I was referring directly to the folks in this community, who for the most part are BMW enthusiasts. The masses couldn't care less about numb electric steering so long as it has that roundel.

Number one in Numbers game and forget about engineering quality. Number one luxury brand? No it is not, luxury is not about numbers.

[Diver]

45%, that's a bunch.

[PawnStar]

Revenues from the sale of products are recognised when the risks and rewards of ownership of the goods are transferred to the dealer or customer.

So BMW considers the vehicle sold when it is invoiced to the dealer, and not just retailed to end user. We all know what channel stuffing is, so these numbers are suspect at best.

BMW should publish 'Retail Sales' numbers, since sales to their 339 dealers are meaningless.

in any event, 2013 YEAR TO DATE overall 'sold' units are only ahead by 14.8% compared to 2012 and 3 series, 6 series and X1 sales account for the entire 14% uptick in YTD numbers. The rest of the models are underperforming compared to last year.

[Never Convicted]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Revenues from the sale of products are recognised when the risks and rewards of ownership of the goods are transferred to the dealer or customer.

So BMW considers the vehicle sold when it is invoiced to the dealer, and not just retailed to end user. We all know what channel stuffing is, so these numbers are suspect at best.

in any event, 2013 YEAR TO DATE overall 'sold' units are only ahead by 14.8% compared to 2012 and 3 series, 6 series and X1 sales account for the entire 14% uptick in YTD numbers. The rest of the models are underperforming compared to last year.

Please tell us the manufacturers who don't use this method.

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by Never Convicted

Please tell us the manufacturers who don't use this method.

Does it matter? The point is that the chest pounding via the published make believe numbers is comical.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by Carlos_Danger

How did we get 45% more sales than last years and still MB beat us,
IS MB cooking their numbers?

Ha, it is the other way around. Plenty of articles about what BMW did last year.

[ADRQ0811]

Originally Posted by eMvy

From a pure business standpoint, this is impressive, but unless youre simply a shareholder, Im not sure why everyone gets so excited over news like this.

It doesn't correlate with the overwhelming number of complaints regarding brand dilution, whoring out the M badge, and in general, BMW losing its way as the ultimate driving machine.

+1 I agree

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by AndreyATC

No.
You are not supposed to count Smarts and Sprinters
Just like BMW is not counting Mini
Otherwise it would be 233K for BMW vs 203K for MB
It's all about to claim the title for #1 luxury brand in US

Half right...actually 203,167 doesn't include Smart division. Sprinter sold 12,788 units YTD in North America. So total MB Luxury division sales are 190,359.

It will be interesting to see what the release of the inexpensive CLA does for their end of year numbers.

[NYCX3]

What did you expect? BMW went mainstream and is trying to accommodate all drivers. It will be like an overpriced Honda or Toyota very soon. I see the quality of the cars going down the tubes. As the saying goes, the greedy end up paying double. So BMW is yet to pay for their greed based market approach.

[nick3753]

Unfortunately these numbers just reinforce that philosophy, for now at least....

[RazBimmer]

WoW! Amazing news.. sad to see Z4 sales struggling though.. it's a fantastic car. why is it that bad???

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by eMvy

From a pure business standpoint, this is impressive, but unless you’re simply a shareholder, I’m not sure why everyone gets so excited over news like this.

It doesn't correlate with the overwhelming number of complaints regarding brand dilution, whoring out the M badge, and in general, BMW losing its way as the ultimate driving machine.

+1. Great to be a shareholder, sucks to be an owner. BMW just went from a luxury to a mainstream brand that has nothing special at ALL! The only great thing that I think they made for a while is the 1M and that basically is following its old formula of making great driving cars. After being a #1 fan of bmw for 15 years, I've begun to question my loyalty and why I'm still pretending that I'm interested in the cars they make. I guess I'll just stock up on their old ones which were at least a bit more special and exclusive. Seriously won't even find your BMW in a shopping mall lot anymore. BMW you dirty slut lol.

[SoCali E36]

Originally Posted by greekcs

Do sales include vehicles ordered but not yet delivered?

I'd like to see a breakdown of each series to get a better understanding. I know the 320i made the 3 series a very attractive sell, along with the low lease rate on the 528i.

No

[vladberca]

There are still some great enthusiasts' cars under the corner, I'm talking about M235i
The 4 series might be a great driving machine too, so I don't understand some comments about brand delution

[i dunno]

most car makers saw impressive gains this month

[Jay-K]

awesome.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by NYCX3

What did you expect? BMW went mainstream and is trying to accommodate all drivers. It will be like an overpriced Honda or Toyota very soon.

Those are called Acura and Lexus. Hope that helps.

And for what it's worth, I don't understand why Americans think of BMW as a luxury brand. Sporty, yes. Quality, yes. Luxury, no. The 7er and 5er series are the luxus segment, but BMW in itself isn't a luxury brand. As anyone who's driven a BMW Isetta can attest to.

[nick3753]

Since they now have so many different models and different variants within each model line doesn't that force dealerships to buy more to keep an inventory available? Thus skewing these numbers further?