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 2006
a Year of Records for BMW Motorrad
100,000 motorcycles produced
and sold for the first time, and over 2 million motorcycles in
its entire history.
Munich. 2006 was a year of superlatives for BMW Motorrad. On
December 15th, an annual production of 100,000 motorcycles was
achieved at the Berlin plant for the first time ever, and in
sales too, the magic figure of 100,000 units was exceeded for
the first time. Exactly 100,064 BMW motorcycles were sold worldwide
- the highest number ever supplied by the company to customers
in a single year. As compared to the previous year (97,474 units)
this means a sales increase of 2.7 per cent. And the company
can boast yet another proud statistic for 2006: in December the
number of all BMW motorcycles produced since 1923 reached the
two million mark. By the end of the year a total of 2,061,977
motorcycles had been produced, 1,616,016 having come off the
production lines of the motorcycle plant in Berlin-Spandau since
1969.
In keeping with the company's roots, the 100,000th motorcycle
was a flat twin "Boxer", an unfaired R 1200 R in Night
Black non-metallic fitted with Integral ABS.
Hermann Bohrer, head of production of the Berlin plant since
September, was very pleased: "100,000 is a great symbol
for the work done here in the plant in recent years. This kind
of success can only be achieved with a strong, well-motivated
workforce. Six new models have been a big challenge to the plant.
I would like to thank all colleagues: it was their efforts that
made this great success possible."
The foundation for increased production was laid by investments
made in past years. Some 117 million euros was spent on developing
motorcycle production in the Berlin plant between 2001 and 2003.
Today it is regarded as one of the most state-of-the-art motorcycle
plants in the world.
Sales results mainly achieved in Western Europe
The markets in Western Europe accounted for the lion's share
of the impressive sales results. In Germany, a total of 23,617
units had been supplied as of December, making BMW Motorrad the
market leader in its home territory. Advance sales due to the
imminent VAT increase resulted in a surge in sales towards the
end of the year. For Rodger Bothmann, head of motorcycle sales
in Germany, 2006 was an unusual year: "We presented five
new models at INTERMOT and gave the market important impulses
with the new single-cylinder models of the G 650 cross series,
the K 1200 R Sport and the HP2 Megamoto. We will continue the
success of this product offensive in 2007."
The second strongest market for the company was Italy with 13,651
units, followed by the US (12,825 units) and Spain (10,002 units).
The R 1200 GS along with its sibling model Adventure -
achieved phenomenal sales success with 31,138 units. Not only
is it the market leader by far among the large-volume enduro
motorcycles, it is probably one of the best-selling motorcycle
models worldwide in the category over 500 cc. Ranking in second
place in terms of popularity of BMW motorcycles is the touring
bike R1200 RT with 13,384 units. The single-cylinder model F
650 GS and the model variation Dakar was sold 12,511 times.
The largest manufacturer of large-volume motorcycles in Europe
in one decade
Within a decade, BMW Motorrad has become the biggest and most
successful manufacturer of large-volume motorcycles in Europe.
But for Dr. Herbert Diess, the managing director of BMW Motorrad,
volume increase is not the ultimate objective: "Our company
strategy is long-term and oriented towards the permanent profitability
of all products; it is not simply geared towards volume. Rankings
in registration statistics are not the main focus of our interest.
We invest carefully in innovations and technologies for new models,
consolidating and extending our segments and market positions.
This secures a strong position within the market for us and our
dealers."
The record figures of the year 2006 mark the latest high point
in an impressive success story for BMW motorcycles which started
back in 1993 with the 4-valve flat-twin generation and the revitalization
of the single-cylinder segment in 1994. Since then, sales have
virtually tripled (from 35,219 units in 1993 to 100,064 units
in 2006).
New company orientation and model offensive since 2004
The continuous extension of the model program and from 2004
the new edition of the 4-valve flat-twin "Boxer"
completely redesigned - much lighter, more powerful and more
agile than the predecessor generation, are further pillars of
success. Today it encompasses eight different models, of which
the sportiest the R 1200 S has an output of 122 bhp.
With the 4-cylinder motorcycles of the K series, also completely
redesigned, BMW Motorrad extended its range towards the high-performance
motorcycle from 2004 onwards, too. This was followed by a strategic
reorientation of the entire model range with significantly increased
dynamic performance and sporty flair.
2006 saw a further milestone: entry into the hotly competed medium
category segment with the two new models F 800 ST and F 800 S.
The state-of-the-art parallel twin, unique in its design, now
forms the basis for an additional model series the fourth
which is to be extended in the years to come. The product
spectrum is rounded off with the all-new, single-cylinder models
G 650Xchallenge, Xcountry and Xmoto, which were presented
to the general public at the end of 2006.
Virtually the entire model program has been completely renewed
over the last two years with 17 new motorcycles having been launched
since 2004. The current model range is divided into four core
segments: Sports, Touring, Urban and Enduro. There are a total
of 20 different models from the 650 cc hard enduro to the
4-cylinder high-performance sports machine with 1200 cc and 167
bhp. It is the biggest, most diverse and most fascinating model
program of all time. Dynamic performance and power have become
the new trademarks of BMW motorcycles, combined with traditional
values such as ecological compatibility, safety and reliability.
Look ahead to 2007
BMW Motorrad starts out into 2007 with five new models. The
new single-cylinder series with the models G 650 Xchallenge,
Xcountry and Xmoto, and the K 1200 R Sport will all be available
from dealerships in Germany from March 10th 2007, the HP2 Megamoto
follows in late spring.
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