ZCZC
BCN-23
GERMANY-AUTOMOBILE-EARNINGS-BMW
BMW profits dented by electric vehicle investment costs
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Aug 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – German high-end carmaker BMW on
Thursday reported slumping second quarter profits, with pricey investment in
electric cars sapping the bottom line, but it remained confident of hitting
targets.
Net profit at BMW fell 28.7 percent compared with a year earlier in the
April-June period to 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion).
Chief executive Harald Krueger said the Munich-based group was investing
in development of all-electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, as well as
upgrading traditional internal combustion engines.
BMW reported increased demand for its i3 compact car and pointed to five
all-electric models slated for release over the coming two years.
An all-electric variant of the Mini is set to begin rolling off its
Oxford, UK production line in November.
The broad development front meant “substantial upfront expenditure was
again necessary,” BMW said, amounting to 1.4 billion euros over the three
months.
Sales increased 2.9 percent, to 25.7 billion euros, but operating, or
underlying profit fell 28.4 percent, to 2.0 billion euros.
BMW highlighted that it had managed to increase unit sales in the first
half, climbing 0.8 percent to more than 1.2 million units, pushing back
against a global auto market predicted to contract over 2019.
Looking ahead to the full year, the firm confirmed its outlook for a
“slight increase in the number of deliveries”.
After setting aside a provision of 1.4 billion euros for an antitrust
probe under way at the European Commission, BMW expects an operating margin
of 4.5-6.5 percent — down from 10.1 percent in 2018.
BSS/AFP/HR/1235