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BMW’s 2009 third quarter earnings fell 86 per cent on last year’s levels, but the firm still returned a 55million euro (£49.5m) profit before tax and interest.

Despite seeing a drop in year-on-year sales in 2009 of between 10 to 15 per cent, the firm still managed to return a pre-tax profit for the quarter thanks to its cost cutting measures.

CEO Norbert Reithofer expects the market to begin to recover over the next while, while BMW’s sales should be boosted by the launch of the ne...Read the full article

-that North guy was right again! BMW cars have lost loads and they are only afloat from RR and Mini; its a downward spiral for BMW.

-these figures are bad, low porfit right at a point when they need lots of money for new developments in terms of hybrids and more importantly electric vehicles.

-what was it that North guy said? that BMW will need to merge or start lots of joint ventures or it will die; they are heading for dramatic change and even possibly death; he is on the money again.

-worst thing for BMW is that I doubt they will get much more profit in from the new models, the question they need to ask themselves is exactly how many new customers are they going to get?

-my feeling is that they will not get many at all i.e. the people buying them are going to be existing customers and they are now defecting to others like C Class.

-the even more worrying thing for BMW is that more cars are coming into the MINI space and the X1 space; BMW have been topped and tailed, so totally.

-if I was a guessing man and if I could find a betting shop, I will bet on a Ford/BMW merger - BMW are in serious trouble and the next year to two years will be heavy for them; Ford/BMW merger I think is on.

CapsLock:

that North guy was right again

 

Welcome back North.

CapsLock:

if I was a guessing man and if I could find a betting shop, I will bet on a Ford/BMW merger - BMW are in serious trouble and the next year to two years will be heavy for them; Ford/BMW merger I think is on

No.

 I heard that CapsLock was leaving the forum.

Lee23404:

Welcome back North.

I am not North, think what you like, but I am not he; I do read the forums though and have read them for I think about two years now.

BUT I REPEAT, I am NOT NORTH - you got to hand it to the guy, he sure spoke a lot of sense and made some great comments re. the future of the industry, he seemed to receive unfair comments at times; I am betting he made a small fortune on the Ford shares though! at that time he will have (to now) probably doubled his money!!

BUT I REPEAT I AM NOT NORTH

CapsLock:

Lee23404:

Welcome back North.

I am not North, think what you like, but I am not he; I do read the forums though and have read them for I think about two years now.

BUT I REPEAT, I am NOT NORTH - you got to hand it to the guy, he sure spoke a lot of sense and made some great comments re. the future of the industry, he seemed to receive unfair comments at times; I am betting he made a small fortune on the Ford shares though! at that time he will have (to now) probably doubled his money!!

BUT I REPEAT I AM NOT NORTH

Yes, yes, as I said, welcome back..................

i am not the North guy, I am not him; I am sorry you think I am, but I am not North.

I have read lots of forums on here, some are quite good, some not so good; took interest in some ages ago about BMW and I also noticed some about Ford; they seem to stir lots of debate, many people thought Ford was off down the tubes and he said put money into them; I have since tracked share price and you know what, he was bang on.

the North guy offered up some great points on some issues; BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, I AM NOT NORTH

 

LOL, what a load of bunk. Are you sure this is not wishful thinking?

Anyway, I think burning the money you were going to bet is a lot more sensible, at least it will warm your hands.

Just for the sake of it, how many cars are coming into the "X1 space"? You're talking about a car that has been on the market for two weeks and has only one possible competitor right now, the Tiguan. Is it the new RR? Remember that it will only be a viable competitor on the UK market. BMW is active on a lot more markets than just the UK, a lot more important markets too.

CapsLock:

-that North guy was right again! BMW cars have lost loads and they are only afloat from RR and Mini; its a downward spiral for BMW.

-these figures are bad, low porfit right at a point when they need lots of money for new developments in terms of hybrids and more importantly electric vehicles.

-what was it that North guy said? that BMW will need to merge or start lots of joint ventures or it will die; they are heading for dramatic change and even possibly death; he is on the money again.

-worst thing for BMW is that I doubt they will get much more profit in from the new models, the question they need to ask themselves is exactly how many new customers are they going to get?

-my feeling is that they will not get many at all i.e. the people buying them are going to be existing customers and they are now defecting to others like C Class.

-the even more worrying thing for BMW is that more cars are coming into the MINI space and the X1 space; BMW have been topped and tailed, so totally.

-if I was a guessing man and if I could find a betting shop, I will bet on a Ford/BMW merger - BMW are in serious trouble and the next year to two years will be heavy for them; Ford/BMW merger I think is on.

 

Welcome back north! You do speak a load of balderdash though! BMW has made money in difficult market conditions, the dealer network is doing fantastically well, the organisation structure of the business is second to none and the potential markets in the far east are being tapped with huge success. X1 has had a great reception by the public and the emissions on BMWs put them in a prime position with regards to current taxation laws in the UK.

I don't think we need to be too worried about BMWs short or long term profitability.

i will say this just twice more, I AM NOT NORTH

as for BMW, they made a loss and have not performed well, the X1 has competition in terms of Kuga, Yeti, the New Mitsi etc (there are lots coming out) and it will suffer; read the write ups for the Yeti and yes it is in the same space.

the other issue with the X1 is as has been said and posted on the forums, people who already have BMWs seem to like it, some will consider not buying a 3 touring for the X1; that is a big issue; will the X1 attract any new consmers (I think not).

the other big issue is the product line up and general global position; it was not that long ago (about 18 months I think) that one of the cheifs predicted that BMW will make a profit and expand throughout the downturn as it has the Asian markets; except it did not work like that did it!

I also recall some people could not imagine the Mini being attacked; other cars are attacking its share with excellent success; 500, Mito etc and the Audi 1 is coming out soon; I also recall the Audi 1 will have a 4x4 version i.e. more X1 sales lost. 

FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT NORTH

Reply to North:

The asian market has suffered more than many thought due to the downturn and it has effected everyone else as well.

Secondly, what you think is not necissarily the truth, every brand is looking at niche markets and this is not only true of BMW, it is the case with Audi and Mercedes too and some of those have not been a success.

My personal industry experience tells me that BMW is in the premier division when it comes to being a well run organisation and I think it'll be just fine!