The X5 and the new X6, as well as the Z4 models, are manufactured exclusively at the Spartanburg County BMW plant for worldwide distribution.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicles Sales:
Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased by 10.7 percent in July to 4,653 vehicles versus 5,212 sold last July. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles are down 10.3 percent, to 32,644 vehicles compared to the 36,396 sold in the first seven months of 2007. The new X6 sold 410 vehicles this month. The X5 sold 2,597 in July 2008, up 12.3 percent from the 2,312 sold in July 2007. Year-to-date X5 sales total 18,967, down 2.6 percent from the 19,470 sold year-to-date by July of 2007.

Z4 Roadster Sales:
Z4 sales were down 45.6 percent to 459 in July 2008 from 844 in the same month last year. Year-to-date Z4 sales total 4,116 through July 2008, down 24.1 percent from 5,420 through the same month last year.

MINI Brand, MINI Automobiles Sales:
In July MINI USA reported sales of 5,063 automobiles, a strong increase of 24.4 percent, from the 4,069 cars sold in July 2007. Year-to-date, the division reports sales of 31,463 automobiles, an increase of 32 percent, compared to the 23,828 cars reported in the first seven months of 2007.

"Again this month, we continue to watch a very large movement from larger to smaller vehicles. From the increased traffic in our dealerships, we are seeing desires to downsize but not downscale,” said Jim McDowell, Vice-President MINI USA. “Over the last month, our MINI sales have also seen on average $4-5,000 of options in a typical sale. Therefore, at least in the premium end of the small car market, small size is not equating to small dollar sales."

BMW Brand Sales:
Sales of BMW brand vehicles dropped slightly by 1.6 percent to 23,914 compared to 24,295 units in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW brand sales are down 8 percent to 155,427 vehicles, compared to 168,874 vehicles sold in first seven months of 2007.

"While we see the premium segment being affected by the same economic conditions as the mainstream market, there continue to be less dramatic consequences in this segment," said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC, commenting on BMW brand sales. "Buyers of our vehicles are still shopping and purchasing but are even more discerning to choose for long-term quality and value. In light of our corporate results announced today, we are going to strengthen our focus on profitability over the next 12 to 18 months by keeping the supply of vehicles in close alignment with demand, which in turn increases our pricing flexibility and brand value. Actions we are already taking include shifting our customer programs in our dealerships to achieve a more equitable balance of retail financing to leasing, further emphasizing the benefits of our four-year free maintenance program, and further developing our Certified Pre-Owned business to aid residual values."

Automobile Sales:
BMW’s automobile sales are up 0.9 percent in July to 19,261 versus 19,083 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales are down 7.3 percent, to 122,783 automobiles compared to 132,478 in the same period of 2007.

The Spartanburg County BMW plant, where the X5 and X6 SUVs and Z4 roadster are manufactured exclusively for worldwide distribution, began recycling methane gas as an energy source at the Upstate BMW plant. The recycled methane gas, drawn from the Palmetto Landfill near asheville, supplies BMW with 25 percent of its energy needs. " Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman said, "This is a win-win for everyone. It avoids the need to burn methane. It yields significant amounts of clean energy. And, by avoiding 55,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, it results in cleaner, healthier air for everyone to breathe." Currently, employment at the asheville County plant totals approximately 4,600.

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 Roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

(Images provided by BMW USA.)

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