BMW Alpina automobiles records GCC growth for second year running

"The company saw a growth of 65% in 2006, with 2007 recording an additional increase of 23% in sales," said Kris Odwarka, Sales Operations, Middle East, North America, UK, for Alpina GmbH + Co KG.

"The B5 S and B6 S, with their 530HP V8s, represent the heart of our business, and the largest portion of BMW Alpina automobile volume in the GCC, both offering more performance and better driving dynamics over their predecessors."

Leading the growth has been the BMW Alpina B6, ahead of last year's leader the BMW Alpina B7. The B6 S, launched at the Middle East Motor Show in Dubai in November 2007, combines performance and luxury in an everyday driver, with a 530-hp supercharged 4.4-litre V8 engine, dedicated sports suspension and a 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 318 km/h.

"Due to the introduction of the B5S and B6S into the market, a production gap limited our expected sales growth over 2006, the year when our business rose over 60% in the GCC. We expected to show no growth over 2006, and to have outperformed these numbers in 2007 is a testament to the demand that our products have witnessed in the GCC," continued Odwarka.

Amongst all GCC BMW Alpina importers, Abu Dhabi Motors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, AGMC in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, and Alfardan Automobiles in Qatar, performed especially well in volume and overall growth.

Globally, the BMW Alpina business has seen record growth, with over 1,500 units sold world-wide in 2007, the best year in the history of the exclusive automobile manufacturer. Additionally, Alpina embarked on the largest ever engineering expansion in the firm's over 40-year history with a new 1,200 square-metres engineering, testing and development centre.

"Alpina have tripled in sales volume in the space of ten years, with the growth coming at the upper reaches of the sport luxury market, and from our rapid expansion into the GCC, North America and the Eastern European markets."