BMW is to recruit 750 new sales executives for its UK dealer network over the next three years – a 10 per cent growth in headcount.
Oxford BMW is investing £2m into a new dealership in the city. The 2000-square metre site has motorcycle and car showrooms and a workshop.
Inchcape is expanding its power base with BMW in the south-east after reaching agreement to acquire dealerships in Cobham, Surrey and Wimbledon from William Jacks. The territories adjoin Inchcape's BMW franchise in Thames Ditton.
BMW has officially revealed its new 6-series coupe, which is to go on sale here by next summer.
Tony Woodley, the hard-nosed negotiator who fought MG Rover's corner in the BMW fiasco, has been named as the new general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union.
BMW Group year-to-date sales have slipped slightly but the Munich-based carmaker is still confident that all brands will exceed year-earlier sales returns by the end of the year.
The European Commission has given the thumbs-up to 29m euros (£21.4m) Austrian Government state aid to BMW's engine plant in Steyr. The funds represent regional, training, environmental and R&D aid.
BMW may be set to ask its UK dealers to establish separate Mini showrooms following the expansion of the brand's model range with the Mini One diesel and a convertible.
BMW is looking to build another plant for Mini production to add to the Oxford site in order to meet demand, according to Spanish media reports.
Security guards had to smash their way into an official limousine with sledgehammers to rescue Thailand's finance minister after his car's computer failed.
BMW is to start building a convertible version of the Mini – hitting the market by mid 2004.
BMW chief executive Helmut Panke says the prestige carmaker will match its 2002 financial performance in 2003 – in spite of the company's extraordinary expenditure made upfront on its product and market offensive.
BMW's first quarter 2003 operating profits fell by 18 per cent to £597m. The downturn stems from increased new product investment and a 7 per cent dip in sales volume in April.
BMW Group's first quarter profits fell 18 per cent from the same quarter the previous year, the company announced today.
BMW dealers in Germany are in open revolt over company moves which they believe will squeeze their margins.
HR Owen has acquired west of London BMW dealership Heathrow Ltd for £4.6m, including £2.1m in cash. Heathrow Ltd made a pre-tax profit of £1.1m on a turnover of £44.7m in the 12 months to December 2002.
BMW says it expects sales in China this year to jump more than 60 per cent through its joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive.
BMW has confirmed that the Hams Hall engine plant in the West Midlands will be the source of engines for the Mini and the forthcoming 1 Series and X3 small sports car in five years' time.
BMW is set to increase Mini output at Oxford by around 10 per cent over the next few years to around 180,000 units (2002= 160,000 units).
European Motor Holdings has bought Arriva Group's Stockton BMW dealership for £7.4m cash. The figure includes a goodwill payment of £2.0m.
