The BMW Group registers higher sales volume, revenues, and profit in Q1

Workforce increased

The size of the workforce grew by 5.5 per cent compared to the end of the previous year's first quarter. Overall, the BMW Group had a worldwide workforce of 117,554 employees at the end of the reporting period (31 March 2014: 111,378 employees). The BMW Group continues to recruit engineers and other skilled workers, in order to keep pace with rising demand for BMW Group vehicles, push ahead with innovations and develop new technologies.

BMW Group reaffirms targets for the full year

The BMW Group can look ahead to the rest of the year with confidence, thanks to its attractive range of models. Economic conditions in some regions will, however, continue to pose challenges. The situation on the Russian automobile market, for instance, is likely to remain difficult. The ongoing process of normalisation of the Chinese automobile market is also likely to continue, resulting in less dynamic growth.

The BMW Group forecasts rising personnel costs over the course of the current financial year as well as ongoing upfront expenditure for further growth and new technologies. The political and economic environment is also expected to remain volatile.

The BMW Group expects tailwind in 2015 due to its attractive model range, the market launch of 15 new models and model revisions and because of the forecast positive development of international automobile markets.

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