Market reports – BMW passes the milestone of 8000 sales – Used BMW

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BMW passes the 8,000 sales milestone

Market reports - BMW passes the 8,000 sales milestone - Used BMW

The Bavarian brand represented 7.2% of sales in France in 2005 with machines quite distinct from the Japanese. Better, its R 1200 RT, despite a price taxed prohibitive by some, is the best-selling motorcycle among the more than 750 cc ! Explanations.

The figures speak for themselves: BMW sold 8,035 motorcycles in 2005 against 7,210 last year and its R 1200 (RT and GS) are among the French bestsellers. Clearly, the German manufacturer had an excellent year.

Jean-Michel Cavret, director of BMW Motorrad France, talks about this news for Moto-Net "record year"…

Moto-Net: What is your assessment of 2005? ?
Jean-Michel Cavret, Director of BMW Motorrad France: I note a market that is still growing (+ 2.65% for 500 cc and over) and an increase for BMW more than four times higher (+ 11.53%). It is therefore another excellent year and another record year for BMW in France: the milestone of 8,000 registrations (8,035 motorcycles) has just been exceeded for the first time in France. !

Moto-Net: Which are your best-selling models and why ?
J.-M. C: The best-selling 750cc motorcycle in France is a European motorcycle: the new BMW R 1200 RT, launched in January, reached 2,467 registrations in 2005! It is the best seller of the category, all brands combined. This is the first time that a BMW model in France has passed the 2,000 registrations mark over one year. I remind you that in 1993, BMW had registered 2,182 motorcycles … all models included! The R 1200GS confirms its conquest with 1,403 registrations for its 2nd year and is placed in 5th position of more than 750 cc.

Moto-Net: Which ones are less successful and do you know why ?
J.-M. C: The BMW range is young and we had no disappointment compared to our model-by-model forecasts..

Moto-Net: What was the pleasant surprise of this year ?
J.-M. C: Whether it is a European motorcycle that is the best seller in addition to 750 cc, all brands combined by far, and whether it is a BMW at 16,450 euros base price! Motorcycle buyers increasingly realize that the true price of a motorcycle is the amount between the purchase price and the resale price. And there, BMW is very strong! Hence the loyalty of our growing clientele who know how to count, because the purchase of a motorcycle at a discounted price is paid sooner or later…

Moto-Net: Which was the worst ?
J.-M. C: We regret not having been able to present our mid-range, the all-new F 800 S, to the French public during the last Mondial du 2 Roues. It will be marketed in May 2006 at a price of at 8,950 euros.

Moto-Net: When you analyze your competitors in high-end large-displacement motorcycles, what are your main reasons for concern and, conversely, your main reasons for satisfaction? ?
J.-M. C: The BMW Group must be recognized for its ability to anticipate trends, whether in cars or motorcycles. This “visionary” faculty is reflected in multiple innovations. Thus, in terms of safety and environmental protection, BMW has a good head start on its colleagues: we introduced ABS in motorcycles in 1986, 20 years ago, and we have marketed it since 1988. Catalyzed pots have been used in our entire range for about ten years, we have always manufactured only 4-stroke engines, etc..

At the same time, it is paradoxical to note that general manufacturers have not ceased to increase the pure power of motorcycles during the last two decades, thus creating a very sport-oriented market profile with the drifts and their consequences that the we know today. Based on this observation, BMW recently demonstrated its technical ability to meet the demand of this market thus created (K 1200 R, K 1200 S, HP2, etc.) while general manufacturers are in the process of taking the opposite path. by developing generalized ABS and other safety devices. It is for us a reason for satisfaction.

It is high time that, collectively, all manufacturers make safety as "sexy" as horses to ensure the responsible development of our sector. Motorcycles must remain a pleasure and not a latent threat for the motorcyclist himself, his close entourage and other users. It is at this price that we will renew the base of the pyramid of our future customers..

Moto-Net: What are your goals for 2006 ?
J.-M. C: With this festival of novelties, our objective for 2006 is to take 10% of market share in more than 500 cc (9.51% in 2005) with 8,800 registrations (8,035 in 2005). We want to continue to grow with our exclusive network of 90 dealers able to continue to satisfy our customers.

Moto-Net: How will you achieve these goals ?
J.-M. C: We have just presented to our network in Brussels five new products which will be marketed during this first semester: R 1200 GS Adventure, K 1200 GT, F 800 S / ST and R 1200 S which will strengthen our range. We have never offered such an attractive range at BMW and we are pleased to see more and more new customers coming through the doors of our dealers. !

Moto-Net: Are you satisfied with your network ?
J.-M. C: We consider that today we have one of the best motorcycle distribution networks: soon 90 exclusive dealers including, and this is an innovation in France, 25 mixed car / motorbike dealers. We also have a Rive Droite / Rive Gauche branch in direct contact with the market, a captive financial company of the BMW Group, BMW Financial Services, with unique products facilitating access to our brand (BMW Select). Finally, our website allows you to view the range and configure your motorcycle, not to mention a used vehicle market..

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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