Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s biggest manufacturer of luxury autos, reported its highest profitability from car making in three years as the X5 sport-utility vehicle won customers and demand rose in China.
Second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes at the auto unit widened to 11.7 percent of sales from 9.6 percent a year earlier, Munich-based BMW said today in a statement. The margin was the highest since the third quarter of 2011 and beat figures of 9.9 percent at Audi AG, the world’s second-largest maker of premium cars, and 7.9 percent at Daimler AG (DAI)’s Mercedes-Benz Cars unit.
BMW, which reiterated a 2014 forecast today of a significant increase in pretax profit, is introducing 16 new or refreshed models this year to win customers and fend off efforts by Volkswagen AG’s Audi and the Mercedes brand to take the global premium-car sales lead by 2020. First-half sales of the full-size X5 jumped 30 percent, while the up-market 5-Series sedan won 7.6 percent more buyers.
BMW plans to deliver more than 2 million vehicles in 2014, including the Mini small-car and Rolls-Royce ultra-luxury marques, reaching an annual sales target two years ahead of schedule. First-half group deliveries rose 6.9 percent to 1.03 million cars, including a 10 percent jump at the BMW brand. Including the Mini nameplate, the car maker’s Chinese sales surged 23 percent in mainland China in the period.
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