By December 2010, a total of 98,047 motorcycles were delivered to BMW customers worldwide, a 12.3-percent improvement over the 87,306 units of 2009.
Germany remains the largest single market for the company. Nearly one motorcycle (500+ cc) out of four in this country comes from the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin. Italy again lands in second place with a 10-percent sales increase in 2010.
Moreover, just like in the auto industry, Brazil is gradually becoming one of BMW Motorrad's strongest sales markets. The plan is to continue to expand its local motorcycle production facility in Manaus, which was first established in 2009.
|
BMW R 1200 GS (Photo: BMW) |
The most successful model overall was the R 1200 GS, selling 18,768 units (previous year: 15,864), followed by its sister model, the R 1200 GS Adventure, which sold 11,648 units. Third place went to the R 1200 RT (11,132). Meanwhile, in its first full year on the market, the new S 1000 RR superbike managed to find 10,209 takers.
In related news, the Husqvarna division suffered a 7.6-percent loss over the previous year but avoided the worst in a declining market segment.
Hendrik von Kuenheim, head of BMW Motorrad, said: "The 2010 motorcycle season was a delightful year for us. Not only could we sell 10,741 more motorcycles than in the previous year, but at the same time we were able to considerably strengthen our market position in a highly-discouraging market environment. Our market share rose to an all-time high, and by December BMW Motorrad was the volume leader in eleven markets".
In early 2011, BMW will revise the flat-twin engine of the R 1200 R and present the new G 650 GS, yet another GS model with a single-cylinder engine. Later, customers will witness the launch of the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL premium touring motorcycles, both powered by inline six-cylinder engines.