The BMW Group has reported record sales in 2006. The company sold 1.37 million automobiles globally compared with 1.33 million in 2005—an increase of 3.5%. Sales of the BMW brand totalled 1.19 million vehicles, up 5.2% from 1.13 million in 2005..

The top selling BMW Group model series remains the BMW 3 Series, in its four variations—saloon, touring, coupé and convertible. In the year under review, sales of the BMW 3 Series rose by 17.1% to 508,498 units (2005: 434,342), accounting for 43% of sales of the BMW brand. Second place, in terms of volume, was the BMW 5 Series, where sales increased to 232,162 (2005: 228,389). The 1 Series was the third most popular with 151,914 sold (2005: 149,493). Meanwhile, the BMW 7 Series confirmed its strong position in the upper automobile category, with 50,199 cars sold (2005: 50,062).

The company’s other brands reported mixed results. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sold 805 Phantoms compared with 796 in 2005—the fourth rise in a row since the Rolls-Royce brand came under the umbrella of the BMW Group in 2003. However sales of the Mini actually fell during the 12-month period.