BMW achieves its fifth record year in succession in 2014March 12, 2015 - 15:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - BMW, the German top-of-the-range car maker, said Thursday, March 12, it achieved its fifth record year in succession in 2014 on the back of buoyant demand for its vehicles, AFP reports. "We continued to perform well during the past year, achieving new highs for sales volume, revenues and group earnings," boasted chief executive Norbert Reithofer. "Tailwinds caused by high customer demand for our vehicles worldwide are driving up sales volumes," he said. BMW said it sold a total 2.118 million vehicles worldwide in 2014, 7.9 percent more than in the previous year. Group revenues rose 5.7 percent to 80.4 billion euros ($85 billion). Underlying or operating profit grew by 14.3 percent to 9.118 billion euros, "thanks primarily to sales volume growth and a high-value model mix," BMW said. Net profit was up 9.2 percent at 5.817 billion euros, "also a new record high for the BMW group." BMW said it wanted shareholders to participate in the rise in profits and would propose an increased dividend of 2.90 euros per common share and 2.92 euros per preferred share for 2014, up from 2.60 euros and 2.62 euros respectively earlier. Looking ahead, the car maker said it targets further sales growth this year. "In view of our attractive model range and the market launch of 15 new models or model revisions over the course of 2015, the BMW group forecasts an increase in sales volume worldwide," it said. "We are targeting ... a new record level for deliveries," said Reithofer. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. U.S. “deeply troubled” by Azerbaijan's arrest of civil society members The United States is deeply troubled by the continued arrest of members of Azerbaijani civil society, Matthew Miller has said. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |