mika
Still Wondering
Today’s Birthdays / Calendar
Here a draft edition of the Morning Reads. I am doing this on the fly with a lousy connection and a screwed up lap top. Think of it as a retro semi low gloss version.
MOTORRAD NEWS
onewheeldrive.net
2008 BMW F650GS: Exceeded expectations
a-harley-motocycle.com
Frames
Bikes in the Fast Lane
Bugatti Motorcycles
Bikes in the Fast Lane
Rigid motorcycle tie downs
thebeachcruiser.com
Marines and motorcycles: a deadly combination
MOTHER SHIP
World of Bmw
Countdown to China
A two-wheeled BMW Welt of experience
Hector Ruiz: The power to connect the world
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BMW GROUP (USA) REPORTS APRIL SALES
05/01/2008
BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) US sales up 9.6 percent in April. Year-to-date sales are down 4 percent.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 1, 2008... The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported April vehicle sales of 31,448, an increase of 9.6 percent from the 28,692 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007. For the first four months of 2008, BMW Group sales are still down 4.0 percent, to 99,977 vehicles versus the 104,125 sold January through April of 2007.
Among other factors, April sales results were posively affected by new products all launched this spring (BMW M3, BMW X6, BMW 1 Series, MINI Clubman).
BMW Brand Sales
BMW brand sales were up 5.6 percent, to 26,735 vehicles compared to 25,310 vehicles sold in April 2007. Year-to-date, BMW reported sales of 85,100 vehicles compared to the 92,670 reported in the same period a year ago, a decline of 8.2 percent.
BMW Automobile Sales
Monthly sales of BMW brand automobiles increased 3.2 percent in April, to 20,930 versus 20,290 in 2007. Year-to-date, BMW automobile sales are down 6.7 percent to 67,083 versus 71,906 reported in the same period last year.
BMW Sports Activity Vehicles
Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were up 15.6 percent for the month, to 5,805 vehicles compared to the 5,020 reported in April 2007. Year-to-date, BMW SAV sales are down 13.2 percent to 18,017 vehicles from 20,764 in 2007.
MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported a 39.4 percent increase in April sales, to 4,713 cars compared to 3,382 cars sold in the same period a year ago. MINI USA also reported sales of 14,877 for the first four months of 2008, an increase of 29.9 percent over the 11,455 sold in the same period a year ago.
Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, April 2008
April
2008
April
2007
%
YTD
2008
YTD 2007
%
BMW brand
26,735
25,310
5.6
85,100
92,670
-8.2
BMW passenger cars
20,930
20,290
3.2
67,083
71,906
-6.7
BMW light trucks
(SAVs)
5,805
5,020
15.6
18,017
20,764
-13.2
MINI brand
4,713
3,382
39.4
14,877
11,455
29.9
TOTAL Group
31,448
28,692
9.6
99,977
104,125
-4.0
BMW Certified Pre-Owned
CPO sales were up 25.4 percent in April, to 9,237 over the 7,368 reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 34,461 automobiles, an increase of 30.7 percent, compared to the 26,376 vehicles reported in the first four months of 2007.
BMW Group Canada appoints new President of BMW Group Financial Services Canada.
05/01/2008
Whitby. BMW Group Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Smith to the position of President, BMW Group Financial Services Canada, effective April 1, 2008.
Ian joined the BMW Group in 1999 in Canada as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Financial Services Division and later was appointed as the President for BMW Servicos Financeiros in Brazil. Upon completing his assignment in Brazil, Ian moved to New Jersey and and became Vice President, Sales and Marketing responsible for Insurance, Remarketing Business Relations and Marketing.
Before joining the BMW Group, Ian worked in the UK and Canada in a number of automotive finance positions with United Dominions Trust and GE Capital.
Ian succeeds Michael Brandstetter who has returned to Germany to manage the development of BMW Financial Service’s International Fleet Business.
This spring, transform your car into a MINI.
05/01/2008
Whtiby, Ontario. Get rid of your old car and get into MINI! MINI Canada launched its spring marketing campaign with an all-new, all Canadian initiative. The campaign invites consumers to get rid of their current car (by various means) in order to get a MINI.
Hitting the streets in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, this latest campaign leverages a wide variety of mediums to connect with the public. Out-of-home media such as billboards, transit shelters, underground parking lots and street level media is complemented with a strong online presence. Prospects who are excited by the advertising and venture online to learn more and engage with the brand are treated with a unique, interactive two-way communication module on the homepage of MINI.CA.
The centre of the campaign features the MINI INCUBATOR, a new feature on MINI.CA that ‘transforms’ a users car into a MINI through a series of interactive stages. The user selects the type of vehicle they currently own and then register to have it MINI INCUBATED, in other words, transformed into an exciting new MINI. The registered user receives regular status updates of the transformation process via email, which are designed to communicate the key features of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S, over a two-week period.
The spring MINI Campaign includes eye-catching superboards, that are located in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The Toronto superboard faces east, just off of the Gardiner Expressway, and showcases a MINI navigating through an impossibly tight maze of real 3-D pylons. The ad is bold and the pylons emphasize the playful, go-kart like handling of the car. The Montreal superboard pictures a sumo wrestler jumping on a balance board with a MINI on the other end - demonstrating the feeling of a driving a twin-scroll turbocharged engine. The Vancouver superboard features the caption, “Burnt rubber is the new black,” and pictures a MINI followed by a long string of tire marks covering a white background.
Prominently featured in this campaign is transit shelter advertising. The ads have catchy phrases like “Cardultry isn’t a sin. (It’s not even a word.)” One particularly humorous ad that plays with the idea of fuel-economy says, “Sucks less than your minivan.”
In addition, MINI wrapped garbage receptacles, with ads that say “lose your car keys here”, encourage walkers-by to “throw” their keys in the garbage, and get into MINI. The cheeky ad points to the recycling and trash sections of the can as a place to put SUV keys, sedan keys and minivan keys.
The MINI Resto Ads (Bar/Restaurant Restroom Ads) echo the message of the campaign for consumers to get out of their current car and into a MINI. They feature a pseudo city map that points out high theft areas (indicated by a red LED blinking light) where you “shouldn’t leave your car”. The ad plays with the theme that the viewer wants to lose their car in order to get a MINI.
An additional online element of the MINI campaign is banner ads placed on websites such as Yahoo, Sympatico MSN and NOW Toronto. The ads are designed to tease the MINI INCUBATOR modules on MINI.CA by introducing situations where you may need a new vehicle. Part of the online marketing strategy includes website domination where the MINI ad will appear on a web page for every impression that day.
All creative was developed by TAXI 2.
For more information on the MINI and MINI INCUBATOR please visit, www.MINI.ca.
BMW PressClub
Conversion tools:
Periodically articles in the Morning Reads list things such as prices in units you may not be familiar with. Here are links to some conversion tools for your use.
Universal Currency Converter by xe.com
Online Conversion tools by onlinecoversion.com
Morning Reads standard measure of bike value is the Rdstr. The Rdstr is pegged to the U.S. Dollar and is currently trading at 1 Rdstr = $12,620 U.S. dollars
BlogRoll: some of the blogs I have collected while purposefully wondering around the internet.
M.R. Traveler
Places 2 Ride Blog
www.biker-events.com
Finding the Good Times on 2 Wheels
Horizonsunlimited.com – Newsletter
2008 International Rally
Gillette, Wyoming, July 17-20 2008
Mining The Website
Threads worth following:
Road Side Attrations
The elections threads; then vote early and often.
Today’sRoadFood.com
Woot
Todays Woot
The Blog
Packer News: Packers.com, jsonline.com - Packers Plus Online
Humor
Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City
Sluggy Freelance
The Onion
xkcd
THE END
Here a draft edition of the Morning Reads. I am doing this on the fly with a lousy connection and a screwed up lap top. Think of it as a retro semi low gloss version.
MOTORRAD NEWS
onewheeldrive.net
2008 BMW F650GS: Exceeded expectations
a-harley-motocycle.com
Frames
Bikes in the Fast Lane
Bugatti Motorcycles
Bikes in the Fast Lane
Rigid motorcycle tie downs
thebeachcruiser.com
Marines and motorcycles: a deadly combination
MOTHER SHIP
World of Bmw
Countdown to China
A two-wheeled BMW Welt of experience
Hector Ruiz: The power to connect the world
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BMW GROUP (USA) REPORTS APRIL SALES
05/01/2008
BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) US sales up 9.6 percent in April. Year-to-date sales are down 4 percent.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 1, 2008... The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported April vehicle sales of 31,448, an increase of 9.6 percent from the 28,692 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007. For the first four months of 2008, BMW Group sales are still down 4.0 percent, to 99,977 vehicles versus the 104,125 sold January through April of 2007.
Among other factors, April sales results were posively affected by new products all launched this spring (BMW M3, BMW X6, BMW 1 Series, MINI Clubman).
BMW Brand Sales
BMW brand sales were up 5.6 percent, to 26,735 vehicles compared to 25,310 vehicles sold in April 2007. Year-to-date, BMW reported sales of 85,100 vehicles compared to the 92,670 reported in the same period a year ago, a decline of 8.2 percent.
BMW Automobile Sales
Monthly sales of BMW brand automobiles increased 3.2 percent in April, to 20,930 versus 20,290 in 2007. Year-to-date, BMW automobile sales are down 6.7 percent to 67,083 versus 71,906 reported in the same period last year.
BMW Sports Activity Vehicles
Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were up 15.6 percent for the month, to 5,805 vehicles compared to the 5,020 reported in April 2007. Year-to-date, BMW SAV sales are down 13.2 percent to 18,017 vehicles from 20,764 in 2007.
MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported a 39.4 percent increase in April sales, to 4,713 cars compared to 3,382 cars sold in the same period a year ago. MINI USA also reported sales of 14,877 for the first four months of 2008, an increase of 29.9 percent over the 11,455 sold in the same period a year ago.
Table: Sales BMW of North America, LLC, April 2008
April
2008
April
2007
%
YTD
2008
YTD 2007
%
BMW brand
26,735
25,310
5.6
85,100
92,670
-8.2
BMW passenger cars
20,930
20,290
3.2
67,083
71,906
-6.7
BMW light trucks
(SAVs)
5,805
5,020
15.6
18,017
20,764
-13.2
MINI brand
4,713
3,382
39.4
14,877
11,455
29.9
TOTAL Group
31,448
28,692
9.6
99,977
104,125
-4.0
BMW Certified Pre-Owned
CPO sales were up 25.4 percent in April, to 9,237 over the 7,368 reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 34,461 automobiles, an increase of 30.7 percent, compared to the 26,376 vehicles reported in the first four months of 2007.
BMW Group Canada appoints new President of BMW Group Financial Services Canada.
05/01/2008
Whitby. BMW Group Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Smith to the position of President, BMW Group Financial Services Canada, effective April 1, 2008.
Ian joined the BMW Group in 1999 in Canada as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Financial Services Division and later was appointed as the President for BMW Servicos Financeiros in Brazil. Upon completing his assignment in Brazil, Ian moved to New Jersey and and became Vice President, Sales and Marketing responsible for Insurance, Remarketing Business Relations and Marketing.
Before joining the BMW Group, Ian worked in the UK and Canada in a number of automotive finance positions with United Dominions Trust and GE Capital.
Ian succeeds Michael Brandstetter who has returned to Germany to manage the development of BMW Financial Service’s International Fleet Business.
This spring, transform your car into a MINI.
05/01/2008
Whtiby, Ontario. Get rid of your old car and get into MINI! MINI Canada launched its spring marketing campaign with an all-new, all Canadian initiative. The campaign invites consumers to get rid of their current car (by various means) in order to get a MINI.
Hitting the streets in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, this latest campaign leverages a wide variety of mediums to connect with the public. Out-of-home media such as billboards, transit shelters, underground parking lots and street level media is complemented with a strong online presence. Prospects who are excited by the advertising and venture online to learn more and engage with the brand are treated with a unique, interactive two-way communication module on the homepage of MINI.CA.
The centre of the campaign features the MINI INCUBATOR, a new feature on MINI.CA that ‘transforms’ a users car into a MINI through a series of interactive stages. The user selects the type of vehicle they currently own and then register to have it MINI INCUBATED, in other words, transformed into an exciting new MINI. The registered user receives regular status updates of the transformation process via email, which are designed to communicate the key features of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S, over a two-week period.
The spring MINI Campaign includes eye-catching superboards, that are located in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The Toronto superboard faces east, just off of the Gardiner Expressway, and showcases a MINI navigating through an impossibly tight maze of real 3-D pylons. The ad is bold and the pylons emphasize the playful, go-kart like handling of the car. The Montreal superboard pictures a sumo wrestler jumping on a balance board with a MINI on the other end - demonstrating the feeling of a driving a twin-scroll turbocharged engine. The Vancouver superboard features the caption, “Burnt rubber is the new black,” and pictures a MINI followed by a long string of tire marks covering a white background.
Prominently featured in this campaign is transit shelter advertising. The ads have catchy phrases like “Cardultry isn’t a sin. (It’s not even a word.)” One particularly humorous ad that plays with the idea of fuel-economy says, “Sucks less than your minivan.”
In addition, MINI wrapped garbage receptacles, with ads that say “lose your car keys here”, encourage walkers-by to “throw” their keys in the garbage, and get into MINI. The cheeky ad points to the recycling and trash sections of the can as a place to put SUV keys, sedan keys and minivan keys.
The MINI Resto Ads (Bar/Restaurant Restroom Ads) echo the message of the campaign for consumers to get out of their current car and into a MINI. They feature a pseudo city map that points out high theft areas (indicated by a red LED blinking light) where you “shouldn’t leave your car”. The ad plays with the theme that the viewer wants to lose their car in order to get a MINI.
An additional online element of the MINI campaign is banner ads placed on websites such as Yahoo, Sympatico MSN and NOW Toronto. The ads are designed to tease the MINI INCUBATOR modules on MINI.CA by introducing situations where you may need a new vehicle. Part of the online marketing strategy includes website domination where the MINI ad will appear on a web page for every impression that day.
All creative was developed by TAXI 2.
For more information on the MINI and MINI INCUBATOR please visit, www.MINI.ca.
BMW PressClub
Conversion tools:
Periodically articles in the Morning Reads list things such as prices in units you may not be familiar with. Here are links to some conversion tools for your use.
Universal Currency Converter by xe.com
Online Conversion tools by onlinecoversion.com
Morning Reads standard measure of bike value is the Rdstr. The Rdstr is pegged to the U.S. Dollar and is currently trading at 1 Rdstr = $12,620 U.S. dollars
BlogRoll: some of the blogs I have collected while purposefully wondering around the internet.
M.R. Traveler
Places 2 Ride Blog
www.biker-events.com
Finding the Good Times on 2 Wheels
Horizonsunlimited.com – Newsletter
2008 International Rally
Gillette, Wyoming, July 17-20 2008
Mining The Website
Threads worth following:
Road Side Attrations
The elections threads; then vote early and often.
Today’sRoadFood.com
Woot
Todays Woot
The Blog
Packer News: Packers.com, jsonline.com - Packers Plus Online
Humor
Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City
Sluggy Freelance
The Onion
xkcd
THE END
