BMW M Division Sales up 50% in 2008; model expansion promised for 2009

BMW's high-performance M division has bested its 2007 sales results by 50% in 2008, the automaker reported today. A total of 24,186 units were sold last year globally, with U.S. customers putting 10,663 M cars in their garages -- a 70% increase over the previous year. The German market saw a 37% bump in sales to 2,777 cars, whereas sales in the U.K. moved up 20% to 469 units. Canada posted the biggest jump (130%) to 1,114 cars moved out of showroom floors. Helping out the cause worldwide was the all-new M3 in coupe, sedan and cabriolet forms which sold 17,993 examples in its first production year. Buyers searching for M-car looks, but not M-car pricing spent their funds on the division's optional Sport Packages (up 7% to 156,139 sold) and BMW Individual options (up 30% to 30,000 vehicles outfitted). Although no specifics were stated, BMW plans on expanding its range into a new vehicle segment (i.e. the much-spied X6 M SUV). "In the course of 2009 BMW M GmbH will once again be expanding its range of high-performance sports cars, carrying over the characteristics so typical of M to yet another vehicle segment. " Here's the portfolio breakdown: M3 Coupe - 10,571 M3 Sedan - 3,253 M3 Convertible - 4,169 M5 - 2,465 M6 Coupe - 1,102 M6 Convertible - 1,158 Z4 M Roadster (August 2008 production end) - 699 Z4 M Coupe (August 2008 production end) - 739 Source: BMW