Luxury carmaker BMW reports record $6.6B profit for 2015

By Associated Press 10 March 2016, 12:00AM

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German luxury carmaker BMW AG has reported a record profit of 6.0 billion euros ($6.6 billion) for last year, a 10 percent increase, as sales grew in all major regions.

The Munich-based company, celebrating its 100th birthday this week, said Wednesday that profits were boosted by stronger sales of its X5 and X6 sport-utility vehicles. It also widened its appeal by introducing the 2-Series Gran Tourer, a family-style van.

Consumers worldwide bought 6.1 percent more of the vehicles with the distinctive kidney-shaped grille, bringing sales to 2.24 million units. Revenues rose 14.6 percent to 92.17 billion euros.

The company is raising its dividend to 3.20 euros per share from 2.90 euros from the year before.

CEO Harald Krueger said it was "another set of impressive figures" and that the company "met all of our ambitious targets."

The company said it increased sales in all of its key regions. Sales in Europe rose 9.4 in Europe and 2.2 percent in the United States. The company saw a slowdown in China, which it terms a "normalization" of the market after years of rapid growth. Sales there rose 1.6 percent.

The company's shares dipped 2 percent to 78.41 euros in afternoon trading in Europe.

By Associated Press 10 March 2016, 12:00AM
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