Deliveries of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce premium brand vehicles increased by 1.8% to 1,242,507 units (2017: 1,220,819 units) during the first half of the year. Group revenues amounted to € 47,717 million (2017: € 49,691 million; ‑4.0%). Adjusted for currency effects, revenues were at a similar level to the previous year (-0.3%). In view of the significantly higher upfront expense incurred for research and development activities, profit before financial result (EBIT) amounted to € 5,479 million (2017: € 5,753 million; -4.8%). The financial result for the six-month period benefited from the contribution of € 444 million (2017: € 342 million) made by the BBA joint venture in China. Profit before tax (EBT) amounted to € 6,038 million (2017: € 6,238 million; -3.2%). The EBT margin for the Group came in at 12.7% (2017: 12.6%). Group net profit amounted to € 4,383 million (2017: € 4,491 million; -2.4%).

Second-quarter deliveries edged up by 0.7% to 637,878 units (2017: 633,582 units). Group revenues for the three-month period totalled € 25,023 million (2017: € 25,765 million; -2.9%, currency adjusted +0.1%). Profit before financial result (EBIT) finished at € 2,746 million (2017: € 2,932 million; ‑6.3%) due to a significant increase in upfront R&D expenditure. Profit before tax (EBT) amounted to € 2,873 million (2017: € 3,058 million; -6.0%). The EBT margin came in at 11.5% (2017: 11.9%), above the target of 10 percent set for the Group. Group net profit amounted to € 2,082 million (2017: € 2,217 million; -6.1%).

Six-month revenues for the Automotive segment totalled € 41,518 million (2017: € 42,166 million; -1.5%; currency adjusted +2.4%). Segment EBIT amounted to € 3,800 million (2017: € 4,121 million; -7.8%), resulting in an EBIT margin of 9.2% (2017: 9.8%). Profit before tax for the six-month period amounted to € 4,343 million (2017: € 4,676 million; -7.1%).

At € 22,192 million, second-quarter Au tomotive segment revenues were at a similarly high level to the previous year (€ 22,165 million; +0.1%, currency adjusted +3.2%). In addition to considerably higher R&D expenses, second-quarter EBIT was also negatively impacted on a low- to mid-three-digit million-euro scale by exchange-rate effects and higher raw materials prices. To a large extent additional costs were offset by efficiency improvements. Overall, EBIT for the three-month period amounted to € 1,919 million (2017: € 2,244 million; ‑14.5%), resulting in an EBIT margin for the Automotive segment of 8.6% (2017: 10.1%), which lies within the unchanged target range of between 8 and 10%. Profit before tax reached € 2,062 million (2017: € 2,391 million; ‑13.8%).

A total of 1,059,296 BMW brand vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide (2017: 1,038,030 units; +2.0%) during the first half of the year. The BMW 1 Series (98,396 units; +7.2%), the BMW X1 (152,866 units; +11.8%) and the BMW 5 Series (191,185 units; +14.9%) were among the numerous models that have contributed to sales volume growth since the beginning of the year. The BMW 5 Series Sedan took first place in the business sedan segment over the six-month period. Improved availability resulted in a 24.6% jump in monthly deliveries of the BMW X3 to 17,584 units in June.

At 181,430 units (+0.1%) worldwide deliveries of MINI brand vehicles during the first six months of the year matched the high level recorded one year earlier. The MINI Countryman was particularly popular, with 48,692 units (+39.8%) delivered to customers during the first half of the year.

Six-month deliveries of Rolls-Royce brand vehicles rose by 13.1% (1,781 units) year-on-year. Rolls-Royce models remain in high demand in most regions, including a positive upward trend in China. Market conditions in the Middle East, however, remain volatile. In addition to excellent sales figures for the new Phantom, demand for the Black Badge versions of the Dawn, Ghost and Wraith models is surpassing expectations.

The excellent second-quarter sales performance means that the BMW Group has now recorded growth in 35 consecutive quarters.