BMW Group's Global January Sales Down 24.2%, MINI Hit the Worst

If January's sales are anything to go by, 2009 will be an even more difficult year for automakers. The BMW Group that includes the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, sold 70,405 vehicles globally in January, down 24.2 percent from the same month last year (92,849 units). In the first month of 2009, the BMW brand reported 60,248 deliveries or 22.1% lower than January 2008. MINI performed even worse selling 10,120 vehicles, down 34.5 percent from last year (15,457 units).

The Bavarian automaker blamed MINI's sales reduction 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. BMW said that this model accounted for a substantial share of total MINI retail, averaging 16% of sales.

As for the group's 'uber' luxury brand, Rolls Royce reported sales of 37 cars that translates to a 9.8% fall over January 2008.

BMW Group sales in January 2009 at a glance

In January 2009 Compared with previous year

BMW Group Automobiles 70,405 -24.2%

BMW 60,248 -22.1%

MINI 10,120 -34.5%

Rolls-Royce 37 -9.8%