Automaker BMW said Wednesday that sales of its cars rose by 9.2 percent last year, with buyers snapping up its luxury sedans and speedy Mini brands. The Munich-based company _ whose brands include BMW, Mini and Maybach _ sold 1.5 million cars last year, compared with 1,373,970 in 2006, it said. «We have completely reached our sales target for 2007 _ growth in the higher single-digit percentage range,» said Stefan Krause, who oversees sales and marketing for BMW. The number of BMW brand cars sold increased by 7.7 percent to 1,276,793, compared with 1,185,088 in 2006. Sales of the Mini jumped by 18.5 percent to 222,875 cars, compared with 188,077 the previous year. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars saw an increase in sales of 25.5 percent with 1,010 of its luxurious Phantoms sold, compared with 805 a year earlier. BMW's motorcycles business showed more growth, surpassing 100,000 sold for the first time, rising 2.7 percent to 100,064 motorcycles sold. Shares of BMW were down more than 1 percent to ¤41.55 (US$61.10) in Frankfurt, part of a wider decline by the DAX, the Associated Press reported.
