BMW Group retained its leadership in the global luxury car market in 2009, partly due to its EfficientDynamics program which gives customers outstanding fuel economy and low emissions without giving up driving enjoyment. BMW sold more than 960,000 vehicles worldwide in the first eleven months of 2009, including approximately 77,000 units sold in China.
China has become BMW’s fourth largest market worldwide. Daniel Kirchert, senior vice president of BMW Brilliance Automotive, attributed BMW’s fast growth in China to the German carmaker’s introduction of new products and cutting-edge technologies, as well as high customer satisfaction and corporate social responsibility.
BMW Brilliance Automotive plans to build a new auto manufacturing plant with a long-term annual production capacity of 300,000 units in Shenyang in 2010. After being put into operation, the new plant will start production of the BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and next-generation BMW 5 Series cars.
In addition, BMW Brilliance Automotive will suspend domestic production of BMW 3 Series sedans in China in early 2010. However, the carmaker will meet market demand for the Series through imports of BMW325 and 320, and the move is part of strategic efforts by the carmaker to more closely align its production volume with market demand. BMW Brilliance Automotive also will boost the annual output at its existing Shenyang plant to 75,000 units from current 41,000.
