The X5 and the new X6, as well as the Z4 models, are manufactured exclusively at the Spartanburg County BMW plant for worldwide distribution.

BMW Sports Activity Vehicles Sales:
Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles decreased by 5.7 percent in September to 4,192 vehicles over the 4,444 sold last September. Year-to-date, sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 8.4 percent, to 42,645 vehicles compared to the 46,577 sold in the first nine months of 2007. The new X6 sold 476 vehicles this month. The X5 sold 2,316 in September 2008, up 1 percent from the 2,293 sold in September 2007. Year-to-date X5 sales total 24,663, up 1.4 percent from the 24,319 sold year-to-date by September of 2007.

Z4 Roadster Sales:
The sale of Z4 roadsters was down 66% percent to 337 in September 2008 from 990 in the same month last year. Year-to-date Z4 sales total 5,009 through September 2008, down 33.5 percent from 37,895 through the same month last year.

MINI Brand, MINI Automobiles Sales:
MINI USA reported September sales of 3,762 automobiles, down 6.7 percent from the 4,031cars sold in September 2007. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 40,694 automobiles, an increase of 27.4 percent, compared to the 31,936 cars reported in the first nine months of 2007.

"Tight inventories restricted September MINI sales, which were 269 units below prior year levels," said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. "Despite high gas prices, limited credit opportunities, and concern about the overall economy, more and more Americans are rethinking automotive choices they have always made. We think this is the reason why we ended the month with only a six day supply of cars in our retailers' showrooms. In the coming month, we look forward to increased production for our market to help replenish our dealer stocks."

BMW Brand Sales:
Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 29.5 percent in September for a total of 14,744 compared to 20,901 reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW brand sales were down 9.6 percent, to 195,633 vehicles compared to 216,337 vehicles sold in the same period in 2007.

"At BMW, we are fortunate to have set a rational plan in place for the entire year. While our sales this month are on a level with others, in the year to date, we are still tracking better than the overall premium market," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "New products such as the just refreshed 3 Series with its new look and new iDrive Control will keep us attractive in the market place. A new dimension will be added to our range of vehicles with the introduction of the Advanced Clean Diesels in the 3 Series and the X5, which will be available in all 50 states. We are also getting ready for the U.S. launch of the all-new 7 Series which comes early in the new year."

Automobile Sales:
BMW’s automobile sales are down 35.9 percent in September to 10,552 versus 16,457 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales also decreased 9.9 percent, to 152,988 automobiles compared to 169,760 in the same period of 2007.

The Spartanburg County BMW plant, where the X5 and X6 SUVs and Z4 roadster are manufactured exclusively for worldwide distribution, began recycling methane gas as an energy source at the Upstate BMW plant. The recycled methane gas, drawn from the Palmetto Landfill near greenville, supplies BMW with 25 percent of its energy needs. " Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman said, "This is a win-win for everyone. It avoids the need to burn methane. It yields significant amounts of clean energy. And, by avoiding 55,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, it results in cleaner, healthier air for everyone to breathe." Currently, employment at the greenville County plant totals approximately 4,600.

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 Roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

(Images provided by BMW USA.)

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