BMW Widens Global Luxury Sales Lead Over Rivals

BMW AG posted October-record group sales of 157,600 cars worldwide last month, up 13% from the same period of 2011.

October demand for the company's namesake brand jumped 15% year on year to 132,800 vehicles, thus increasing its lead over its German luxury car rivals.

Volkswagen's Audi brand boosted global volume 14% to 123,600 vehicles last month. Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit hiked passenger vehicle sales 6% to 109,600 units.

From January through October, demand for the BMW brand climbed 9% year on year to 1.24 million cars (+9%). Volume grew 13% to 1.22 million units at Audi and 5% to 1.07 million units at Mercedes.

BMW group volume, including the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, was flat at 71,400 vehicles in Europe last month. But sales surged 37% to 41,000 units in Asia and advanced 19% to 32,300 units in the U.S.

The company's group sales rose 9% to 1.49 million vehicles in the first 10 months of 2012.