The 2012 year was BMW Motorrad’s best on record, the Bavarian motorcycle manufacturing supplying 106,358 motorcycles and maxi scooters to customers worldwide.
This was up two percent from 2011, when 104,286 motorcycles and maxi scooters were delivered. As for the month of December, 6,069 units were supplied, which was up 43.4 percent from the same month of 2011 when 4,232 units were supplied.
BMW reports that heavily influenced by economic developments, Italy achieved fourth position (10,200 units), having previously been BMW Motorrad’s second largest market. Meanwhile Brazil moved its way up to fifth place with 7,442 units. Four models are now produced for the local market by BMW Motorrad in Manaus/Brazil in response to the growing importance of this market. BMW Motorrad was able to assert its market leadership in Germany, Italy and Spain in the relevant market segment over 500 cc.
The most success-selling BMW motorcycle was the air-cooled 2012 R1200GS ((17,249 units), followed by the F 800 GS (11,487 units) and the R 1200 GS Adventure (10,203 units).
Subsequent rankings were occupied the superbike S 1000 RR (8,970 units) and the touring classic R 1200 RT (7,909 units). The super touring bikes K 1600 GT and GTL were also high on the popularity scale, with 10,033 sold in total, BMW reports.
Stephan Schaller (President of BMW Motorrad): “Never before in the history of BMW Motorrad have we been able to sell as many vehicles. We have achieved this magnificent retail success in the context of a very difficult motorcycle market, especially in Europe. I would like to thank all our customers most sincerely for having placed their trust in us.
“The new all-time sales high demonstrates that our motorcycles and maxi scooters have been received extremely well. We are on the right track with our product and sales strategy and we will power ahead at full pace to enable ongoing growth. In December we started supplying to customers what is currently the most innovative vehicle in the 1000 cc supersports segment: the new HP4. The three special boxer models ’90 years of BMW Motorrad’ will arrive at dealerships in January.
“In February we will start supplying the new mid-range touring bike F 800 GT. And March 2013 sees the launch of the successor to our bestseller. The all new R 1200 GS – containing our entire experience drawn from over 30 years of GS development. It offers significantly enhanced performance, a higher level of touring and off-road suitability, more equipment, enhanced safety and comfort and a distinctive, modern GS design.
“We are confident that the new version of the world’s top-selling travel enduro bike will attract even more customers. We also anticipate powerful growth stimuli from our maxi scooters. Since the market launch in the second half of 2012 we have been able to sell almost 5,300 vehicles and we now look forward to the first whole sales year. There are lots of new products in store for our customers in 2013 – the year of our 90th anniversary. Based on our ongoing product offensive we feel confident as we look ahead to the upcoming season. Our aim is to surpass the 2012 record once again.”
As for BMW Motorrad’s subsidiary, Husqvarna Motorcycles sales were up 15.8 percent in 2012. BMW says 10,751 units were sold from January through December, compared to 9,286 units in 2011.
For December, 1,267 motorcycles were sold, which was down 4.7 percent compared to December 2011 when 1,330 motorcycles were sold.
The most popular models in the single-cylinder sports segment (enduro, supermoto, motocross) were the 250/310 cc (2,758 units) and the 449/511 cc (1,627 units).
In the segment of motorcycles designed for on-road use, 1,936 of the models Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R were supplied as of December, as well as 1,321 of the models TR 650 Terra and TR 650 Strada.