Positive spin
Updated: 2007-07-31 09:41
Stark says the company is planning more corporate social responsibility programs in China in the years to come.
To make its vehicles affordable for more Chinese buyers, BMW in January 2005 slashed the prices of its locally assembled 3 and 5 Series sedans by as much as 14 percent, its boldest markdown in China.
2007 forecast
BMW expects its sales on the Chinese mainland to grow by at least 38 percent this year from the 2006 figure of 36,357, says Stark.
In the first half of the year, BMW's mainland sales climbed by 38 percent to 23,167 vehicles, including 15,165 3 and 5 Series sedans made at its joint venture in the northeastern city of Shenyang with Brilliance China Auto.
Barring any further negativity in the market toward the brand, Stark says the group will see growth at the end of this year of not less than what it was in the first half.
"We will go faster than the market, and basically faster than our main competitors," he says.
"This is usually our benchmark, our yardstick."
From January to June, mainland sales at Audi, the premium brand owned by Volkswagen, grew by 27 percent to 48,716 cars.
And German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has seen its combined sales on the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao increase by 28 percent to 13,500 units.
Stark says BMW will offer new products in China to boost sales.
"We would like to stay true to the products and true to the brand. We try to on one hand bring new products, but also to adapt our products as much as we can to the demands of Chinese customers," he says.
Last November, BMW's venture with Brilliance launched the new 5 Series sedans, which are 14 cm longer than the previous models and only available in China.
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