BMW (GB) has achieved its biggest September sales month with a record 19,365 registrations, up 12% from 2003. The new BMW 1 Series has contributed to the figure with over 2,000 registrations. The car has only been on sale since September 18 and the waiting list now runs into 2005.

Year-to-date sales continue to be strong with an increase of 5% over last year. As a result the company is safely on target to beat 2003 full-year sales.

The BMW 3 Series makes up nearly 60% of the total BMW January to September sales with 44,387 registrations so far this year.

One year on from the launch of the new BMW 5 Series saloon and sales have increased 50% year-to-date.

Nearly 4,000 BMW X3s have been sold since the launch in July and the 2.0 litre diesel model available from October is expected to enhance its success.

Over 2,400 BMW 6 Series Coupés and Convertibles have been sold since the launch in March.

Mini has sold more cars in September 2004 than in any other month since the car went on sale in July 2001 registering 7,487 cars. The previous record month was earlier this year when registrations reached 7,393 in March. The addition of the new Convertible to the Mini family has helped sales increase 10% in September, with almost 5,000 now driving on British roads since the launch in July.

34,360 Minis have been sold up to September representing a five per cent increase compared to the first nine months of 2003.

Jim O'Donnell, managing director for BMW (GB), says: "September has been a very strong month for the BMW Group and is further evidence of the company's successful expansion strategy. The highly successful launch of the new BMW 1 Series proves the appetite for a premium car in the compact class and opens the BMW brand to new customers, while the success story of the Mini keeps on breaking records."