BMW says MidEast sales up 14% in 2012

BMW Group said on Tuesday that it delivered more than 20,000 vehicles to Middle East customers in 2012, making it the most successful year for the German car maker in the region.

With a total of 21,314 BMW and MINI vehicles sold across 13 Middle East markets, the company's year-end results represented a 14 percent increase on 2011.

The luxury marque said it registered record sales in 10 markets in the region, several of which recorded double digit growth.

The UAE remained the biggest market, accounting for 47 percent of BMW and MINI regional sales and almost 10,000 vehicles sold.

Abu Dhabi was the highest volume selling market, with a 21 percent growth, while Dubai witnessed an increase of five percent.

Saudi Arabia was the third highest volume selling market, with 17 percent growth, BMW said in a statement.

Other top performing markets included Kuwait, with a growth of 37 percent, the highest among all BMW Group Middle East importers, and Oman increased sales by 33 percent and Lebanon by 25 percent.

Dr Joerg Breuer, managing director, BMW Group Middle East, said: "These remarkable results clearly demonstrate the continued growth of the region's economies, with the BMW Group making gains in almost all GCC and Levant markets, and with almost all our importers recording double digit growth.

"It is also the first time that we have crossed the 20,000 unit mark."

MINI recorded another year of sales growth in the Middle East with 1,305 models sold across nine markets - an 18 percent increase over 2011.

Breuer added: "It has been a great 12 months and we anticipate that 2013 will be another successful year for BMW Group in the Middle East.

"Together with our importer partners, we remain committed to driving our BMW Group brands forward in the Middle East with the investment in facilities, customer service and the launch of new models."