BMW R1200GS and S1000RR Selling Well

During an economy that's less than favorable to motorcycle manufactures, BMW Motorrad reported sales and earnings were increased "sharply" in the second quarter of 2010.

Sales of BMW motorcycles increased 21.6 percent to 36,715 units sold, compared to 29,742 in the second quarter of 2009. The Bavarian manufacturer says during the first half of the year, BMW Motorrad sold 57,015 units (2009: 46,974 units). This corresponds to an increase of 21.4%.

The number one seller was the long-distance enduro model, the BMW R 12000 GS. This BMW also became the best-sold bike in the 500 cc plus motorcycles segment worldwide. Sales of the S 1000 RR - the first supersport bike manufactured by BMW Motorrad - reached a total of 6,459 units worldwide in the six-month period from January to June (of which 1,223 were sold in June).

Two new luxurious BMW Touring motorcycles, the K 1600 GT and the K 1600 GTL, will be presented to the public for the first time in autumn. For the first time in the segment's history, both of these models will be fitted with six-cylinder in-line engines.

BMW said its motorrad earnings increased in the second quarter on the back of a good sales volume performance despite otherwise unfavorable business conditions. Six-month segment revenues rose by 30.7% to euro 439 million (2009: euro 336 million). EBIT for the period rose to euro 54 million (2009: euro 26 million) and the result before tax improved to euro 53 million (2009: euro 24 million).

 Six-month revenues increased to euro 790 million (2009: euro 626 million/+26.2%). The segment reported an EBIT for the first half of the year of euro 86 million (2009: euro 54 million) and a profit before tax of euro 83 million (2009: euro 50 million).