BMW July's sales up 9.1% on China, U.S. demand growth

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest luxury-car maker, said sales rose 9.1 percent in July, spurred by demand from China, the U.S. and the U.K.

Deliveries increased to 119,982 cars and sport- utilityvehicles last month, extending the year-to-date gain to 12.5 percent or 816,014 units, the Munich-based manufacturer said today in an e-mailed statement.

“We are reaping the benefits not only of the global economic recovery but also of customers’ positive response to our vehicles,” BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said, predicting sales growth “to remain strong” in coming months.

BMW, Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen AG’s Audi luxury division have all boosted sales this year on surging demand in China, the world’s biggest auto market, and a rebound in the U.S. and Europe. BMW raised its 2010 sales target on July 13, forecasting a 10 percent gain to more than 1.4 million units.

Sales in China surged 82 percent to 13,852 cars while U.S. deliveries increased 10 percent to 23,390 vehicles. In Europe, the U.K. posted the strongest growth with 26 percent or 11,748 unit sales, according to the statement.

Audi reported a 7.7 percent increase in July sales last week, citing record deliveries in China and the U.S.