BMW October Sales Up 2 Pct; Audi Up 0.4 Pct

GEORGE FREY

FRANKFURT (AP) — German automakers BMW AG and Audi AG said Monday their October sales improved as the global downturn showed signs of waning, helping demand for luxury cars.

BMW, the world's biggest luxury carmaker, said its group sales improved 2 percent for the month to 115,252 units from 113,011 sold in October 2008.

Based in Munich, the company includes the namesake BMW brand as well as Mini and Rolls Royce. The company also builds BMW motorcycles.

"We are aiming to set new sales records in China, India and Brazil in 2009," said BMW's sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson in the company's report.

BMW said Brazil saw a 224 percent increase in sales for the month; China an 81 percent increase and India a 56 percent rise.

"Our sales figures have been steadily recovering since April and we were able to make gains in October as planned. We expect to see further solid growth in November and December. Our goal is to remain the world's leading premium manufacturer once again in 2009," Robertson said.