BMW 7 Series to be added to production in Cairo from 2nd half of 2006

The BMW 7 Series will be built in Cairo later this year, in addition to the BMW X3, BMW 5 and BMW 3 Series models. This locally assembled BMW 7 Series will feature the long wheelbase and a power plant from the eight-cylinder gasoline range.

BMW 3 and 5 Series automobiles have been built in Egypt since 1997. The production of the BMW X3 was announced at a press conference on
February 9th by Dr. Michael Ganal, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing. The local production partner has been the Bavarian Auto Group (BAG) since 2003.

In 2005, 1,757 BMW Group cars were registered in Egypt. This is an increase of 69.6% over the previous year (1,036). Never before have so many BMW and MINI cars been registered in Egypt. Most of them were BMW automobiles, with 1,683 units (prev.yr.: 1,026/+64.0%). This means that the BMW brand is the market leader in the relevant premium segment for the first time. The registration of MINI cars increased in 2005 to 74 units (previous year 10). MINI was launched in the Egyptian market in June 2004.

After a record year in 2005, the BMW Group strives to grow even further in 2006. Egypt will play a role in this. The start of production here in Cairo of the BMW X3 in March and later this year of the BMW 7 Series is an important step on the path towards this goal.