Dupa un an de crestere sustinuta, acesta este al treilea trimestru consecutiv (deci de 9 luni incoace) cand profitul BMW merge in jos - in ciuda faptului ca vanzarile au mers foarte bine, inregistrand cresteri de volum.

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said profit fell for a third consecutive quarter as the company wrestled with higher raw material prices and increasing competition.

Third-quarter net income fell 6.5 percent to 448 million euros ($540 million), or 67 cents a share, from 479 million euros, or 71 cents, a year earlier, the Munich-based company said today in an e-mailed statement. Sales rose 11 percent to 11.7 billion euros.

Chief Executive Helmut Panke, reiterating an earlier forecast, said in the statement he expects 2005 earnings to be little changed from 2004 because of exchange-rate fluctuations and spending on supplies such as steel. At the same time, sales are rising after Panke introduced 10 new cars or versions of existing models last year. BMW overtook DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz as the world's biggest luxury-car maker in March.

``It's disappointing all around,'' said Philippe Houchois, an analyst at JP Morgan in London who has a ``neutral'' recommendation on the stock.

Vehicle deliveries in the quarter increased 15 percent to 341,932 cars from 296,310 vehicles, with BMW-brand sales rising 17 percent to 290,454 units from 248,431 vehicles, the carmaker said. Demand at the Rolls-Royce brand increased 7.8 percent to 179 cars, while Mini sales rose 7.5 percent to 51,299 units.

The company, which makes the 5-Series midsized sedan, has beaten analyst expectations in four of the past seven quarters, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Analysts expected net income of 496.5 million euros for the third quarter. The company reported record profit of 2.2 billion euros in 2004.

``As far as profit goes, there are burdens through the currency effect, high raw material prices and intense competition,'' Panke said today. ``Under these conditions, BMW aims as before to reach the high earnings level of last year.''

Panke, citing analysts' estimates that higher raw-material prices and currency shifts may hurt 2005 earnings by 1.1 billion euros, has said BMW is ``working against this'' by improving efficiency.

Competitia zic eu (uitati-va ce masini a inceput sa scoata Mercedes)

Probabil competitia si aici nu intra doar Mercedes .

Pai, daca ai vazut-o, scrie te rog un scurt "review", cat mai obiectiv. Ai facut si un drive test?

Mda...nici Audi nu e de neglijat(noul A6)

Nu e reclama aia la radio?:"Cu un avans de 2000 de euro poti pleca acasa cu un Mercedes clasa C"

si BMW-ul nu are nici o promotie la3-er?

La Mercedes am admirat faptul ca au reusit intotdeauna o abordare de design care, desi e modernista, pastreaza totusi valorile clasice. Orice model Mercedes miroase de la o posta a Mercedes. Exista numeroase elemente de continuitate in design, in evolutia de la o generatie la alta.
BMW cred ca pur si simplu a rupt orice legatura cu istoria, odata cu design-ul "a la Bangle". Doua exemple: varianta curenta a seriei 5 (E60) cu predecesorul (E39), respectiv varianta curenta a seriei 7 (E65) cu cea dinainte (E38).