Weak Euro, high demand: BMW is growing strongly – STERN

D he carmaker BMW rushes from record to record. In the first quarter of the Audi and Daimler competitor put sales, revenues and operating profit vigorously.

In addition to a high demand and a strong growth in key regions such as China, Western Europe and the US benefited Munich also from the weak euro. Sales rose in the first three months of the year by 15 percent to 20.9 billion euros, as the company announced. Before interest and tax profit rose by a fifth to 2.52 billion euros.

Because of the costs of hedging against fluctuations in the price of the purchase of raw materials increase, however, was the surplus of less strongly. The bottom line remained in the first quarter with 1.52 billion euros four percent more than a year ago left. The outgoing chief executive Norbert Reithofer confirmed the consolidated forecast for the current year. Accordingly, deliveries and earnings are solid increase to new records – it would be the sixth consecutive record year

core business again strengthened

For the core business -. The sale of cars – Reithofer is even slightly more optimistic than last. Due to the weak euro, sales are expected to rise significantly here now. So far BMW had a solid – that is a medium to high single-digit – made increase in prospect. In the first quarter of the division’s sales grew by 14.1 percent to 18.9 billion euros. In addition to the positive impact of the weak euro, by the converted turnover is higher in countries like the US, Reithofer expected tailwind by new models.

“We have started well into the new year” said Reithofer, who passes on the reins at the meeting in the coming week to the former Production Director Harald Krüger. BMW benefit from it, not to be too dependent on one region. So the problems in Russia and the anticipated slowdown in growth in China could be offset by a strong business in the US and Western Europe.

On the stock market, the figures and the views were well received. The stock, which has already developed strongly in recent years, gained up to two percent in the forefront. DZ Bank expert Michael Punzet praised the strong development of operating profit in the automotive sector. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of the division moved by 13.5 percent to EUR 1.8 billion.

The stock market would be

Profitability Therefore, the division remained surprisingly stable: BMW earned before interest and taxes 9.50 euros per 100 euros. Here experts had expected because of cost, among other things for the startup of a new production platform with a fall. Munich are thus in terms of profit margin continued at the level of rivals Audi and Daimler. When sales of premium cars Munich want again this year, despite a last rapid growth of the Daimler Mercedes-Benz brand retain the lead.