BMW has reported record quarterly sales and revenue figures, as its range of cars continues to enjoy a surge in popularity.
Reporting its results for the second quarter of 2006, sales of its BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles rose 3.2% from a year earlier to 365,547 units.
Group-wide revenues climbed by 8.5% to 13.2bn euros ($17bn; £9bn), from 12.2bn euros during the same period in 2005.
BMW's pre-tax profits rose 33% to 1.2bn euros, beating market expectations.
'Best year'
"It is our very first world premiere at a British motor show"
"On this basis, the BMW Group is therefore well on course to achieving its targets for the full year 2006 and hence, as forecast, the best year in the company's history," said BMW chief executive Helmut Panke.
BMW reaffirmed that it expected to make 4bn euros in pre-tax profit across 2006 as a whole.
It cautioned that high steel prices would affect the company, but not enough to slow its growth.
The upbeat results pushed BMW's shares up 2.1% in early trading in Frankfurt, making it the biggest riser on Germany's main Dax index.
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