The motorcycle markets relevant for the BMW Group (500 cc plus) again performed inconsistently during the second quarter 2007. In global terms, the motorcycle markets contracted by 3.7%compared to one year earlier. The European market saw a 3.6% drop during this period. This was largely due to pre-seasonal buying in the first quarter caused by the mild winter. In Germany the 500 cc plus market segment contracted by 11.4 % in the second quarter 2007.

In the USA too, the world’s largest market for motorcycles, the segment relevant for the BMW Group was 5.3% down in the second quarter against the previous year. The Japanese motorcycle market grew sharply (+ 7.5 %) in the second quarter 2007.

On a six-month basis, sales volumes on the 500 cc plus motorcycle markets contracted worldwide by 1.2%. Whilst Europe saw a small increase (+ 0.5 %) in the first half of 2007, the motorcycle market in Germany registered a 3.4%decrease for the six-month period. The markets in “non-traditional” motorcycling countries performed well. In Scandinavia, for example, growth rates of approximately 12% were achieved. The effect of the mild winter was particularly evident in this region.

The US motorcycle market fell 4.1% below the previous year’s level. The Japanese motorcycle market came close to reaching the previous year’s six-month level (–1.1%).

Although the BMW Motorcycles segment’s second-quarter sales volume figure was below that recorded in the previous year, the performance was still better than the market as a whole. With 36,201 units sold, the second-quarter sales volume figure was 2.3% below the previous year, mainly due to pre-seasonal buying in the first quarter 2007. On a six-month basis, however, motorcycle sales went up by 5.6%to 59,230 units, a new record for a sixmonth period.

In total, 42,674 BMW motorcycles were sold in Europe during the first half of the 2007, almost matching the level achieved one year earlier (– 0.8 %). The number of BMW motorcycles sold in Germany in the six-month period dropped sharply to 11,972 units, 11.0% below the previous year’s figure. Despite this development, BMW was still able to maintain its position as market leader. BMW motorcycle sales grew in Spain (5,272 units, + 9.3 %) and in the United Kingdom (2,951 units, + 8.4 %) in line with the market.

In the USA, the number of BMW motorcycles sold in the first half of 2007, at 6,800 units, was 0.1% ahead of the previous year despite the fact that the market as a whole contracted sharply. The new F 800 and G 650 X models, available on the market since the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 respectively, played a major part in this positive development.

In Japan, the BMW Group sold 1,793 motorcycles, 27.3% more than the previous year’s equivalent figure. Here too, the availability of new models had a positive influence.


The large long-distance enduro R1200GS again heads the list of best-selling BMW motorcycles for the six-month period. Including the Adventure version, 17,914 units were delivered to customers. Second place in the BMW best-seller list with 6,558 units sold was taken by the long-distance tourer R1200 RT, closely followed by the F 650 GS enduro. Including the Dakar version, 6,430 units of this model were sold.

Motorcycle production volume higher than in previous year


In total, 32,772 BMW motorcycles were manufactured during the second quarter 2007, 3.9% more than in the same quarter last year. This figure included 29,857 units manufactured at the BMW Berlin plant (– 5.3 %) and 2,915 units manufactured at Piaggio S.p. A., Noale, Italy.

On a six-month basis, a total of 68,567 motorcycles were manufactured, 12.3% more than one year earlier. This comprised 61,758 units manufactured at the BMW Berlin plant and 6,809 units manufactured at the Piaggio S.p.A plant.

BMWGroup acquires Husqvarna


On19 July 2007, the BMW Group acquired Husqvarna, a motorcycle company with a very long tradition. The agreement is still subject to approval by the European cartel authorities and will only come into effect after approval has been received.

The Husqvarna acquisition represents a logical step for the Motorcycles segment in terms of its activities in the single-cylinder segment. All development, sales and production activities and all employees will be acquired and continue to be based in the north Italian region of Varese.

Revenues and earnings of the Motorcycles segment both up on a six-month basis


Second quarter segment revenues fell by 5.5%to euro 396 million in line with the drop in sales volume. Revenues for the six-month period totalled euro 763 million, surpassing the previous year’s figure by 4.2%. The segment profit before tax for the second quarter was unchanged at euro 56 million. On a six-month basis, segment profit before tax rose by 5.9%to euro 90 million. The main contributing factors behind this development are on-going measures to improve efficiency in the Motorcycles segment.

Workforce of Motorcycles segment down slightly


The BMW Group employed a workforce of 2,765 people in the Motorcycles segment at 30 June 2007, 2.2%fewer than one year earlier.