China becomes No. 4 market of BMW cars

Shanghai, October 23 (Gasgoo.com) The robust sales of BMW cars in China over the first nine months of the year made the country the fourth-largest market for the German premium car marker, media reported.

BMW AG recently said its sales in mainland China rose 32% year on year (y/y) to 62,394 in the January-September period, with the BMW brand's deliveries reaching 59,400 and the Mini division's sales reaching 2,934. China has now overtaken Italy as BMW's No. 4 market after Germany, the U.S. and the UK.

The German carmaker sold 4,457 BMW X6 SUVs in China's mainland in the first nine months, leading any market across the globe for the model. September sales of BMW and Mini cars in mainland China totaled 8,131 units, up 35.4% y/y.

BMW Brilliance, a joint venture in China between BMW and Brilliance China Auto, makes BMW 3-series and 5-series models. The BMW 1-series may be also made in China next year. The JV is expanding its production capacity, which will reach 110,000 units by late 2010 from the current 30,000 units.

In August, BMW said it had applied to Chinese regulators for approval to set up an auto financing joint venture with Brilliance Auto, and that it expects the financing firm to become operational in the first half of 2009.

BMW is rivaling with two other German luxury car makers for share of the fast-growing Chinese market. Last month, Mercedes-Benz sold about 7,000 cars in China, up 59%, and Audi sold more than 15,000, up 37%.