BMW Group Sells 70,405 Vehicles In January

BMW Group Sells 70,405 Vehicles In January MUNICH, Germany –: Ongoing challenges in the global automotive markets resulted in a decrease in sales at the BMW Group in January. In the month under review the Group sold 70,405 vehicles of its three automobile brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce - 24.2% fewer than in January 2008.
In the first month of the new year the BMW brand reported 60,248 (prev.yr.: 77,351) deliveries - 22.1% lower than for the same period last year. In the month under review 10,120 (prev.yr.: 15,457 / -34,5%) customers bought a MINI brand vehicle. The MINI sales reduction was in part due to the lack of availability of the MINI Convertible which ended production in mid 2008 with the new model launch scheduled for March 28th. The previous model accounted for a substantial share of total MINI retail, averaging 16% of sales. More than 164,000 of MINI's soft-top models were sold between 2004 and 2008, which by far exceeded expectations. In January Rolls-Royce handed over 37 automobiles to customers (prev.yr.: 41 / -9.8%).
Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: "Current market conditions remain extremely challenging. However, our Efficient Dynamics strategy is expected to continue to provide momentum for the BMW Group with more and more European countries moving towards CO2-based vehicle taxes. No other manufacturer reduced its fleet's CO2 emissions more than the BMW Group last year."
Deliveries of the BMW 7 Series continue to do well as a result of the European market launch of the new model. With 2,498 units sold, 5.1% more vehicles were delivered in January than in the same month last year. Sales of BMW's flagship are expected to get another strong boost when the Series is also launched in China (in late January) and the United States (in mid-March). These markets accounted for more than 50% of the previous model's total retail. Demand for the BMW X6 also continues to be strong, with 2,846 deliveries, as well as for the new BMW 1 Series Coupé, which saw a major increase in sales (+81.6%) to 1,295 (prev.yr.: 713) units.
BMW Motorrad started the year well. Against the overall negative market trend, BMW Motorrad exceeded the previous year's sales (prev.yr.: 3,689/ +1,1%) for January with 3,731 units sold. This was largely due to continued strong demand for the F 650 GS and F 800 GS two-cylinder motorcycles which were introduced during the course of last year. The company expects to receive a further boost from the launch of the revised K models K1300R, K1300S and K1300GT on the market in February.
Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/6/2009)

Spartan Motors Announces Webcast of Fourth Quarter Conference Call on February 19 CHARLOTTE, Mich.: Spartan Motors, Inc. will announce its fourth quarter 2008 results prior to the market opening on February 19, 2009. The Company will also host a webcast of its conference call on the same day at 10 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results with analysts and institutional investors:
What:Spartan Motors, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2008 Results
When:February 19 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Where:spartanmotors.com (Click on "Shareholders," then "Webcasts")
How: Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the address above
Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/6/2009)

A New Era - Citroen Reinvents Itself And Presents The DS Inside Concept Car PARIS, France: Today, at 90 years of age, and on the birthday of its founder, Andre Citroën, French car manufacturer CITROËN is turning a new page in its history, and begins a global brand project that encompasses a new visual identity, a new relationship with its customers and an exciting new line of automotive products.
In a difficult economic climate, and in a period of changing relationships between customers and brands, CITROËN is taking action and reinventing itself. The Marque aims to pursue the excitement generated by the success of its products launched over the past ten years, by enhancing the CITROËN brand to strengthen and support the range.
New Identity Developed jointly by CITROËN’s Marketing and Styling teams, headed by Jean-Pierre Ploué, and the Landor agency, an international branding and design network, the logo is the first visible sign of change. The chevrons have broken free from their frame and become three-dimensional, gaining in strength and body. Bridging CITROËN’s past and future; the colour red is used for the new brand name typography. The red assumes a new, deeper tone.
Brand identity: Créative Technologie CITROËN strongly recognise the alliance between creativity and technology; being the first to propose Stop & Start technology, on the CITROËN C2 and C3. It also leads the European market with its automated manual gearboxes and has pioneered particulate filters. The Marque illustrated its ecological and economical commitment in 2008 by confirming its European leadership on vehicles emitting 110 g/km of CO2 or less, thanks to the CITROËN C1.
Rather than aiming for pure technological exploits, CITROËN innovates for the benefit of its customers. It invented Hydractive suspension, the wide-angle panoramic windscreen, and new driving aids such as the lane departure warning system. It has also developed new designs with maximum use of space, as seen on its latest new model, the CITROËN C3 Picasso.
CITROËN has the boldness to completely rethink the automobile. The CITROËN C4 Picasso has transformed the segment, becoming the leading model in its class in 2008 and going on sale in the first-quarter of 2009, the CITROËN C3 Picasso has the same ambitions. With the new CITROËN Berlingo Multispace, launched in May 2008, and CITROËN Nemo Multispace, coming in early 2009, CITROËN will have a range of five, renewed MPV vehicles, making it the standard-setter in this segment.
For the future, the CITROËN Hypnos concept car heralds diesel hybrid technology and the CITROËN C-Cactus is a new vision of the automobile.
Non-conformist advertising spirit CITROËN’s new advertising strap line is Créative Technologie. Written in French, identical worldwide and rich in meaning, these words form the basis of the new advertising strategy. Every advert demonstrates the promise of the brand and the benefits for the customer, whilst remaining playful and optimistic. For the first time since 1983, the Marque is launching a new advertising campaign co-developed with Agence H, a subsidiary of the Havas group.
Graphic principles for visibility and consistency Today CITROËN is introducing new graphic designs, a single typography and a unique tone of voice to boost the visibility and consistency of the brand. The new brand will universally reflect the Marque's new status. The key colours are white, denoting openness and elegance, and red, to express vitality, together with black, grey and chrome, for status and power.
Development strategy Renewing models and making them significantly better than their predecessors is already an ambitious programme. But some customers want deeper-seated changes as mentalities shift from “wanting more” to “wanting better”. This strategy is based on two approaches: Practical but stylish
The first approach, consisting in satisfying fundamental mobility needs, addresses customers who, having down-sized, are on the look-out for more economical – and more intelligent – products.
Some would describe this as low-cost, but it isn’t. The real challenge for CITROËN is designing products that are less expensive but with no loss in appeal. This approach is perfectly illustrated by the CITROËN C3 Picasso, a real recession proof car. And, going forward, our CITROËN C-Cactus project will be an even more accomplished solution. Motoring pleasure and pride of ownership
In contrast, the second approach favours motoring pleasure, with no loss in practicality. Customers here are looking for outstanding products that confer status and bring them an all-new automotive experience. They want prestige, thrills and refinement, without the rigid codes of traditional upper-range models.
To address this need, CITROËN is today launching a new line of products to broaden its current range. The new line will consist of three new cars, positioned in the small, medium and large car segments, launched successively from 2010.
The first illustration of this new product line is the CITROËN DS INSIDE concept car. The concept car and vehicle line are characterised by forthright choices on styling, onroad performance and use. These are accessible objects of desire, cars that stand apart by their creativity, intelligent design and build quality, embodying the very best of CITROËN. The new product line will perfectly illustrate CITROËN’s new spirit of “Créative Technologie”.
The new line will also have a new naming system. Like the main range vehicles, which carry the letter C and a number, and, like the MPVs, which sport the Picasso signature, the new models will feature a special name: the DS line.
DS stood and continues to stand for a new approach to automobiles and the future. CITROËN is taking inspiration from its design DNA to strengthen the positioning of its new product line. The range instills the different spirit, that the name DS inspires. Hence the distinctive model line up will be called DS3, DS4 and DS5. DS: Different Spirit.
Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/6/2009)