Published

SUVs Drive Record Revenue for BMW

BMW AG says strong demand for its lineup of SUV/crossover vehicles helped it increase sales in 2017 by 4% to a record 2.46 million units.
#economics

Share

BMW AG says strong demand for its lineup of SUV/crossover vehicles helped it increase sales in 2017 by 4% to a record 2.46 million units.

Gains in unit sales in Asia (+14% to 747,300 units) and Europe (+1% to 1.10 million) offset a 2% decline to 451,100 units) in the Americas. Sales in the U.S. of BMW and Mini brand vehicles shrank 4% to 353,800 cars and SUVs.

Group net profit jumped 26% to €8.7 billion ($10.7 billion) last year, thanks to the drop in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from the previous 35%.

The company reports its group revenue climbed 5% to a record €98.7 billion ($121.9 billion) last year. Operating profits rose 5% to €9.9 billion ($12.2 billion).

BMW boasts that the growth in pretax profits came in spite of an 18% hike to €6.1 billion ($7.5 billion) in r&d spending. “This,” crows financial chief Nicolas Peter, “is what we mean by sustained profitability.”

The company’s automotive business saw revenues last year advance 3% to €88.6 billion, pretax earnings rise 2% to €7.7 billion and pretax profits climb 10% to a record €8.7 billion.

The company will release further financial details on March 21.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Tariffs on Autos: “No One Wins”

    While talk of tariffs may make the president sound tough and which gives the talking heads on cable something to talk about, the impact of the potential 25 percent tariffs on vehicles imported to the U.S. could have some fairly significant consequences.

  • Ford’s $42 Billion Cash Cow

    F-Series pickups generate about 30% of the carmaker’s revenue. The tally is about twice as much as what McDonald’s pulls in.

  • Report Forecasts Huge Economic Upside for Self-Driving EVs

    Widespread adoption of autonomous electric vehicles could provide $800 billion in annual social and economic benefits in the U.S. by 2050, according to a new report.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions