BMW Boosts Global Sales 3% to All-Time High

BMW AG sold 191,300 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles worldwide last month, surpassing the previous all-time high of 185,700 units in March 2012.

The BMW brand also had its best month ever in March with a 4% gain to 159,200 vehicles. Demand dipped 2% at Mini and advanced 3% at Rolls-Royce.

In the January-March period, group volume grew 5% to 448,200 vehicles, marking the strongest quarter in the company's history. Quarterly demand for the BMW marque climbed 7% to a record 381,400 vehicles, offsetting declines at Mini and Rolls-Royce.

Group sales in the first three months of 2013 set records in BMW's two largest markets: China (+8% to 86,100 units) and the U.S. (+4% to a 79,000 vehicles). Volume across Europe edged up 3% to 207,100 vehicles in the first quarter, despite a 4% decline to 63,700 units in Germany. Demand in Russia jumped 21% to 9,400 vehicles.