BMW to add 30 dealers in China this year

Shanghai, May 12 (Gasgoo.com) BMW plans to add 30 dealers to its existing 70 dealers in China, BMW China president Karl-Heinz Schmid told Automotive News Europe on Sunday.

The expansion will hopefully assist in achieving BMW's sales target in China, he reportedly said, adding that the automaker wants to open more dealers in the second- and third-tier cities while maintaining their sales competitiveness in big cities.

BMW already boosts its number of dealers in China from 20 to 70 last year.

In 2007 BMW sales in China jumped 42 percent to 51,588 units. Its major rival Audi however posted sales of 100,888 units last year, up 25 percent year on year.

BMW, which is partnered in China with Brilliance Automotive, also announced on March that it plans to increase spending on parts from 150 Chinese suppliers to $625 million in 2008, compared with $500 million last year.