BMW Follows Other Major Automakers Into The Abyss, Profits Fall 90% in 2008

If people start getting banned for not adding anything "constructive", this place would become pretty quiet.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 12:47:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 14   

He needs to be banned because his handle is derogatory and offensive, never mind his lack of input.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:16:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

So BMW made LESS profit...what's the big deal? Like others said, they still made profit.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:17:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Imagine if this story was about Toyota or any other Japanese company losing 90% profit? I wonder what the comments from these same people would be...

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 2:26:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Excellent news! BMW is overpriced.

— DocMarten (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 2:39:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Looks like Kraut_god hurt some whinners feelings. Maybe Kraut_god should apologize or these Whinies may go ban themselves to teach us a lesson.

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 12:21:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

On the positive side, they still made a profit.

— monster (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 11:33:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11   

Believe you me, BMW would sell cars if there is money out there. They are just experiencing what every company is going through. No one's fault per say.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 11:40:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11   

Fortunately, Audi's profits rose 30% in 2008.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 12:22:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

Audi was actually more profitable than BMW in 2008.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 12:26:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

Easy BMW fans! Being independent clearly did not serve as an advantage to BMW in 2008. Look at BMW now teaming up with Merceds-Benz to get through the crisis.

What is Audi doing? Comfortably relying on economies of scale thanks to its backing by corporate parent Volkswagen AG. Look at Audi's 30% profit increase for 2008 along with record sales....Audi was actually more profitable than BMW for the full year of 2008.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 12:51:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

I can guarantee you Germany as a country would not let their two hierarchy brands go south to extinction. It just won't happen. Not that anyone is saying they will, but you better believe they would be backed if need be. BMW joining with Mercedes for some cost savings is a pretty smart idea, and will help them in the long run to have a short term merge of sorts.

As for the profit fall, look at the world economy. Audi sales went up because people didn't want to pay sticker for a BMW, they went to the Audi dealer and got their discount. Now that right there is my own matter of opinion comment, lol. Don't take it to heart.

If you already mass produce a car that is less expensive version of another, it is not hard to take the base components, add some extras and luxo-options and charge more. This would create a wider profit margin. Apparently the Obamites never took economics even in its base form. If you have a higher profit margin on a product, then you...cmon now...thats right! Show a higher profit! So if BMW is BMW and there is no Honda equivalent, then they are paying a higher margin on cars and making less profit per vehicle. Therefore if BMW made $2,000 for every 3-series it sold and Audi makes $4,000 on every car. You can see where the cost falls into place. BMW is slightly higher priced than Audi in most respects so the general math is not hard to do.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:09:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Also to point on in the US at least, BMW reveled in a surge in the early and mid 2000's in ownership. But given the economies and people being more thrifty and worry-some, they may not go for another high priced loan or lease. Gas goes up...people take a train and buy a Prius. Economy goes down...people start to save more.

Somebody tell Obama to stop his ludicracy, each day America dies a little more.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:12:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Audi is actually more expensive than BMW in many markets around the world. Don't worry though, Audi's prices are rising too. Look at the A4 3.2 and how everyone complains its too expensive. Same thing goes for the S4, S5, S6, S8 etc.. and also the RS4 and RS6.

Bottom line: Company's are in business to make a profit and with Audi making a lot more of it than BMW when times are tough,, Audi will be better prepared in terms of their future product development when times get better.

Audi could just leapfrog Mercedes-Benz for 2nd place in the premium luxury arena this year.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:17:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

Another point.BMW's growth was largely driven by leases. Being that credit has dried up they are highly vunerable now.

— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:20:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I must be reading it wrong? But isn't a drop from 3.1 billion to 330 million, almost a 1000% drop?!? Correct me if I'm wrong.

— Agent250 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 1:31:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I knew the X6 was a huge mistake. LOL...

— DocMarten (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 2:41:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Ugly does tend to have that kind of effect (among other things). The market is weak but you can’t blame everything on the economy.

BMW makes nice cars but they are far from perfect. I just ended an 8 year relationship with a BMW (2001 330i). I liked the car and was going to keep it for the long-haul, but since ALL cars with that kind of mileage (103,000 miles) are going to need major repairs, I decided that the money would be better spent on a new car.

I looked at the newer BMWs (3-series) and things like; Run-flat tires (although the run-flats are better now from what I’ve heard. they are still expensive to replace and hard to find), No-dipstick, 15,000 mile Oil-change intervals, No Limited-slip Differentials, and the reduction of gauges turned me off. And then there’s the aesthetics; Small looking wheels, non-painted brake calipers (the calipers look crude), Candle-light colored illuminated Corona Rings around the headlights, and too many rounded exterior body panels combined with sharp creases (not a good combination IMO). The cars just started looking weird and generic. And did I mention the cold, stark, Spartan, boring interiors? I was also tired of the orange illumination for the gauges.

Looks have never been a BMW strong point but at least in the past they had all the “drivers” stuff covered. The only “drivers” stuff that they have covered now is only the actual drive. And to be honest you can get very close to that (surpassing it in the case of my EVO X MR) while not giving up any of the drivers stuff. I was a Hardcore BMW guy. But when it came time to get another car, the choice was easy NOT to get another BMW. And with the direction that they seem to be headed in now, I doubt I’ll ever get another one.

— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 3:33:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

A reduction in profit is still a profit. Much better than many other companies out there.

— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 3:44:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

This is a huge loss by any measure not even counting the fact that BMW had one of the largest profits margin for every stripped down tin-can they sold, I guess that takeover by Benz will happen after all.

Star will be crying himself to sleep tonight... in his bimmer jammies and hist MSport night-light :)

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 3:48:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

Troll alert....DocMarten is the "old" Teknik.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 6:43:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

TOYOTA PROFIT for the year
2008 PROFIT: USD 17.15 billion ????

Toyota has not released oficial data until March 31, 2009 but it's probably -5 billion not +17.15 billion!!!

— trungdq (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 9:03:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Fanboy
you are as ignorant as can be, proof please, anything, technical datas, anything. You are so wrong and you have your head so fat up you arss that I will not even go point by point to prove you wrong because it will just be a waist of my time. And I'd rather you stay stupid and ignorant. It fits you well.

— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 9:14:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The sad part there other fools like Whatthe that boost you up.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 6:59:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Again, Audi do not leverage off on VW's platform besides the A3. when are you going to learn? You can't stay that ignorant for that long. I have one for you guys; the Porsche Panamera is said to use the electronic networks from the Audi A6 C6 platform, does that make the Porsche an expensive Audi or does that make the Audi a cheap Porsche?

— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2009 10:53:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

How stupid can you get. Audi never had an A1. It doesn't exist yet. Phaeton is steel and the A8 is aluminum. The list goes on to defeat you ignorant arguments. For automotive enthusiasts, you sure know very little. Fanboy, The A2 was aluminum. How is that a Polo? You are really stupid.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 12:10:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The new and previous A4 had nothing to do with the Passat. The new A4 sits on its own Audi developed platform. Everyone knows this. Do some research and the information is out there.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 12:12:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

How much more do you need to prove your ignorance. Keep on going fool, you make us laugh...hahaha

— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 12:48:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Volkswagen AG’s Audi luxury division said profit jumped 30 percent last year because of new models and sales growth in China and eastern Europe.

Net income increased to 2.21 billion euros ($2.81 billion) from 1.69 billion euros in 2007, the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automaker said in a statement today.


In an unscheduled preliminary earnings release, BMW, the Munich-based company, said its net profit for the full year dropped to euro330 million ($416 million) in 2008 from euro3.1 billion in 2007.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 11:27:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

hey minivanguyen,

I do dot worship any brand, well maybe Aston Martin, just a little. The matter of the fact is that when I see ignorance, especially towards a brand I do work for, then that irritates me. And you are very irritating.

You are obviously, either some dumb kid with no education, or some fanboi trying to ramp us up. Because there is absolutely no way that any grown up with some automotive education would say the stuff you are saying about Audi and VW. BTW like Viso said, do some research, this has also been debated on Autospies about a "gazillion" times.

So, which one are you; the kid or the fanboi?
Or are you just plain stupid?

— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 12:38:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Believe me: no hate here. I like BMW's also, but I can't let this one pass on without blaming it at least part of it)on Bangle's design. The damage that he and his team did to the 7 series will take years to forget.

— Caraficionado (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 1:24:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Even more...the last thing I want is for BMW to do bad. But mistakes so evident must be recognized. BMW needs to come up with a nice flagship and it better be nicer than the upcoming A8.

— Caraficionado (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 1:28:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'm amazed how some people are ignorant to a point where they deny pure facts. Why is so hard to accept facts? Obviously BMW didn't plan everything out as they should. They still have profit which is good but not good enough for largest luxury car maker. Audi clearly did a lot better job. Don't start now with VW sharing theory. I think Viso made it clear. Just accept facts!I will give you my personal example. Even though I am just a student( faculty of building construction) I already worked on one project. In my bussines not accepting facts means a lot of people will die. That is why please open your eyes!

— AUTO_UNION (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2009 3:23:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

lol seriously...
I love reading Autospies, but everytime I do...I see this guy: 'DocMarten' make a comment about BMW. All I see from DocMarten are comments about 'BWM 90% loss, BMW is a sinking ship' etc and followed on with a bunch of other bull$hit. You don't even post anything productive, but preach your hate towards BMW just to tell everyone Mercedes and Audi are better. Okay - they're better. Big deal! Like all industries - automotive, finance, internet, gaming consoles, soft drinks, all companies experience a time where 'when they go up; they must come down'.

BMW will sometimes be more successful than its rivals, Audi will sometimes take that spot, and so will Mercedes-Benz. Its a competitive rotation! Everyone knows that Audi has finally 'picked up its gam'e and now its moving up ahead of BMW AND Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz has also had a few problems in the past with regards to its 'quality' and 'image'. And now, BMW are experiencing some financial problems.

Your aggressive and degrading attitude towards BMW makes you look like you care about BMW more than an actual BMW fanboy does. Look at yourself - after clicking on 10 links; I've seen the same topics relating to BMW and maybe an additional sentence to encapsulate the actual topic being discussed.

Now, you can flame back at me, give me a whole page essay, say this and that; but bottom line...talk about something else! So what if Toyota or Merc buy/takeover BMW, it doesn't say anywhere that Toyota or Merc will last forever ;) You'd be surprised. =)

If DocMarten can go around posting the same shit about the financial stabilty, reputation and future of BMW, I might as well repeat myself with this comment. And change it a little to pass it as not being spam. -_- XD

— iftwb (View Profile)

Posted on 3/16/2009 10:27:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

lol seriously...
I love reading Autospies, but everytime I do...I see this guy: 'DocMarten' make a comment about BMW. All I see from DocMarten are comments about 'BWM 90% loss, BMW is a sinking ship' etc and followed on with a bunch of other bull$hit. You don't even post anything productive, but preach your hate towards BMW just to tell everyone Mercedes and Audi are better. Okay - they're better. Big deal! Like all industries - automotive, finance, internet, gaming consoles, soft drinks, all companies experience a time where 'when they go up; they must come down'.

BMW will sometimes be more successful than its rivals, Audi will sometimes take that spot, and so will Mercedes-Benz. Its a competitive rotation! Everyone knows that Audi has finally 'picked up its gam'e and now its moving up ahead of BMW AND Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz has also had a few problems in the past with regards to its 'quality' and 'image'. And now, BMW are experiencing some financial problems.

Your aggressive and degrading attitude towards BMW makes you look like you care about BMW more than an actual BMW fanboy does. Look at yourself - after clicking on 10 links; I've seen the same topics relating to BMW and maybe an additional sentence to encapsulate the actual topic being discussed.

Now, you can flame back at me, give me a whole page essay, say this and that; but bottom line...talk about something else! So what if Toyota or Merc buy/takeover BMW, it doesn't say anywhere that Toyota or Merc will last forever ;) You'd be surprised. =)

If DocMarten can go around posting the same shit about the financial stabilty, reputation and future of BMW, I might as well repeat myself with this comment. And change it a little to pass it as not being spam. -_- XD

— iftwb (View Profile)

Posted on 3/16/2009 10:27:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2