BMW Group Middle East announced a 26 percent growth in the first nine months of 2001 over the same period last year. The total number of BMW cars sold across the Middle East reached 6,144 units in October, compared to 4, 825 last year, reported Al-Bayan.
Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East Robert Bailey-McEwan confirmed that BMW’s active 12 Middle East markets witnessed significant growth. The biggest markets in terms of sales volume were UAE in the lead with 1,400 units in the first seven months of the year 2001, compared to 939 during the same period last year.
In Kuwait 727 units were sold between January and July 2001, compared to 517 the year before. Saudis bought 675 units in the first seven months of the year, compared to 533 units last year, stated a company press release.
The fastest growing market in the region was Bahrain with a 79 percent increase in the first seven months of 2001, over last year. Kuwait experienced a with 41 percent growth in sales during that period.
The UAE recorded an impressive 49 percent growth rate on the whole. BMW importer in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, AGMC, attributed a 25 percent to this total, while Abu Dhabi Motors exhibited a remarkable 87 percent growth.
BMW's history with the Middle East dates back to 1924, when BMW was still only an aircraft turbine manufacturer. That year, the first intercontinental flight powered by BMW engines went to Persia. The first BMW car to be sold in the UAE came in 1976 with the sale of a BMW 520i.
The BMW regional office officially opened in Dubai in 1994, although operations had begun as early as 1993. It was the first regional office of a European automotive manufacturer in the Middle East. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
