Automotive segment reports nine-month free cash flow of € 6.3 billion +++ Segment EBIT margin comes in at 11.3% for nine months +++ BMW brand grows nine-month market share in Europe, Asia and Americas +++ Deliveries of fully electric vehicles up by 121.4% for nine-month period +++ Raised outlook for full year 2021 confirmed +++
Munich. The BMW Group continued to demonstrate its high level of profitability in the period from July to September 2021, with revenues, profit before tax and net profit all at record levels for a third quarter. The Group’s strong performance during this period was driven in particular by favourable product mix factors and positive pricing effects for new vehicles as well as stable selling prices of pre-owned vehicles.
The BMW Group also posted new record figures for deliveries to customers, revenues and profit before tax for the nine-month period and, in light of this strong performance, confirmed its outlook for the full year at the quarterly press conference. The outlook for the current year was raised in an ad-hoc announcement dated 30 September, clearly demonstrating the Group’s underlying profitability.
At the same time, the Group is relentlessly driving forward the process of becoming a climate-neutral premium automobile manufacturer.
“The BMW Group shows how profitability and transformation go hand in glove. We see technological change as a great opportunity to strengthen our business model on a sustainable basis. With our focus on climate-neutral mobility, we are consistently driving the company forward to make it future-proof,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in Munich on Wednesday.
The BMW Group’s consistent focus on sustainability, ultimately leading to a circular economy, was underlined with the unveiling of the BMW i Vision Circular concept vehicle at the IAA in Munich in September. This first, fully recycled and recyclable vision vehicle created by the BMW Group provides a forward glimpse of sustainable premium mobility in the year 2040.
“When it comes to climate protection, the relevant question is: how big is the carbon footprint of a vehicle over its entire life cycle, including the impact of raw materials, industrial production, the active use of the vehicle and recycling? That is the currency that ultimately counts and the one by which our performance will be measured,” Zipse emphasised. “That’s why our understanding of sustainability goes far beyond developing e-drive systems. We aim to leverage circular economy principles to achieve a maximum of climate protection – starting with the sustainable selection of individual raw materials for production and considering the life cycle of our vehicles as a whole.”
E-mobility expanding at faster pace – high growth rates achieved
The BMW Group is swiftly and systematically expanding its range of electrified models. With demand for electrified vehicles on the rise, it sold 231,575 fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles during the first nine months of 2021, twice as many as one year earlier (2020: 116,400 units; +98.9%). Sales of fully electric vehicles grew particularly dynamically, rising by 121.4% to 59,688 units (2020: 26,957 units).
During the third quarter, the BMW Group received high acclaim from international automotive experts and journalists alike for its new, fully electric BMW iX and BMW i4 vehicles. Order intake worldwide is high for both models, with deliveries to customers due to start from this month onwards. “With the BMW i4 and the BMW iX, we are taking e-mobility to a new level. The BMW iX is the innovation flagship that gives upcoming BMW models new capabilities that include 5G technology, the latest generation of software and the most advanced e-drive the BMW Group has ever developed. The BMW i4 comes straight from the heart of the BMW brand and offers customers a whole new dimension of driving pleasure. The statement we are making could not be clearer: If a vehicle bears the BMW badge, then it’s a genuine BMW – regardless of the drive variant,” said Zipse.
The BMW Group’s electric mobility strategy is moving relentlessly towards its steep ramp-up phase. As early as 2023, the Group will have 25 electrified models on the roads – 13 of them fully electric. In the period up to 2025, the BMW Group is set to grow its sales of fully electric vehicles by an average of more than 50% annually, delivering around two million fully electric vehicles to customers by the middle of the decade.
Growth in revenues and profit before tax
The BMW Group recorded significant sales volume growth in the first nine months of the current year, with deliveries rising by 18% to 1,932,224 units (2020: 1,638,167 units). In the third quarter, reduced production volumes of the BMW Group due to the supply situation impacted delivery figures. During the period from July to September, a total of 593,177 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were delivered to customers (2020: 675,592 units; -12.2%).
The continuation of positive pricing effects for new and pre-owned vehicles as well as a favourable product mix more than compensated for the lower sales volume, driving third-quarter revenues up to € 27,471 million (2020: € 26,283 million; +4.5%; adjusted for currency factors: +3.5%). Revenue growth for the nine-month period was even more pronounced, rising significantly to € 82,831 million (2020: € 69,508 million; +19.2%; adjusted for currency factors: +20.5%).
The improved price penetration for new and pre-owned vehicles is primarily due to the BMW Group’s attractive product range, strong customer demand and the generally lower availability of vehicles due to the shortage of semiconductors.
“Business during the current financial year to date has benefited substantially from the favourable stable market situation and continued brisk demand,” said Nicolas Peter, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Finance. “The latest set of reported figures underlines the operational strength of the BMW Group and demonstrates the outstanding commitment of our workforce.” Looking ahead to the upcoming changes in the BMW Group’s business model, he added: “Our ability to generate profit is the prerequisite for transforming our business model. Our stated policy is to finance the necessary investments out of ongoing operations. With a combination of prudent planning, good management and a keen focus on efficiency and profitability, we are excellently positioned to do so.”
Future-oriented investments remain at high level
Research and development activities during the period under report were focused on new models as well as on the electrification and digitisation of the vehicle fleet and automated driving, in other words on key issues in terms of driving the process of transformation and strengthening the company’s future viability. R&D expenses recognised in the income statement amounted to € 1,600 million in the third quarter, 13.8% up on the previous year, taking the total for the nine-month period to € 4,337 million (2020: € 4,140 million; +4.8%). Total R&D expenditure amounted to € 4 ,369 million, slightly lower than one year earlier (2020: € 4,397 million; -0.6%).
Due to revenue growth, the research and development ratio for the nine-month period fell slightly from 6.3% to 5.3% (in the third quarter: 6.5%; 2020: 5.9%).
Group profit before financial result (EBIT) rose to € 10,913 million (2020: € 2,633 million) for the nine-month period and to € 2,883 million (2020: € 1,924 million) for the third quarter. In addition to improved pricing for new and pre-owned vehicles, as described above, EBIT also benefited from the unchanged low level of allowances required to be recognised for credit risks. The partial reversal of the provision for EU antitrust proceedings recorded in the second quarter also had a positive impact on nine-month earnings.
The financial result for the nine-month period was a net positive amount of € 2,240 million (2020: € 329 million; in the third quarter: € 534 million; 2020: € 540 million). The result from investments benefited in particular from the Group’s share of the profit reported by the Chinese joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., Shenyang, which increased to € 1,475 million for the nine-month period (2020: € 959 million; +53.8%).
Other financial result went up to a net positive amount of € 940 million (2020: negative € 282 million; in the third quarter: positive € 173 million; 2020: positive € 200 million), whereby the improvement was mainly attributable to the continued favourable fair value development of interest rate hedges resulting from the rise in yield curves in the USA. The remeasurement of investments held by the BMW i Ventures fund as well as the investment in SGL Carbon had a positive impact.
Group profit before tax (EBT) amounted to € 13,153 million (2020: € 2,962 million; in the third quarter: € 3,417 million; 2020: € 2,464 million).
The pre-tax return on sales (EBT margin) came in at 15.9% for the nine-month period (2020: 4.3%) and 12.4% for the third quarter (2020: 9.4%).
Nine-month delivery figures significantly up on previous year
Automotive segment sales in the third quarter of 2021 were impacted by semiconductor supply issues. Deliveries to customers in Europe and Asia were down, whereas sales in the Americas region rose year on year. Over the nine-month period, however, sales growth was recorded for all major regions worldwide, including an excellent performance on European markets, where deliveries of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were up by 11.9% to 725,721 units (2020: 648,494 units).
The limited availability of semiconductors caused third-quarter deliveries in Asia to fall to 254,739 units (2020: 288,907 units; -11.8%). However, the figure contrasts sharply with Group performance over the nine-month period, during which 835,090 units were delivered to customers (2020: 705,789 units; +18.3%).
Third-quarter sales figures for China dropped to 203,008 units (2020: 230,920 units; ‑12.1%). Here, too, figures were well up over the nine-month period, with 670,964 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers since the beginning of 2021, 19.7% more than in the same period one year earlier (2020: 560,367 units).
Overall, the BMW Group has continued to strengthen its competitive position in all key regions. Mirroring this positive trend, sales volume growth at brand level also ranged between ‘solid’ and ‘significant’ for the nine-month period. Worldwide, BMW brand sales climbed by 19.3% (2021: 1,703,068 units; 2020: 1,427,392 units). MINI brand deliveries increased to 224,838 units (2020: 208,124; +8.0%), whereby the 106.6% growth in sales of electrified models – particularly the fully electric MINI SE* – contributed considerably to the overall growth recorded. The ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce delivered 4,318 units to customers between January and September, setting a new record for the period with an increase of 62.9% (2020: 2,651 units).
Automotive segment revenues rose significantly to € 70,373 million in the first nine months of the current financial year (2020: € 54,829 million; +28.3%), of which € 22,628 million were recorded in the third quarter (2020: € 21,962 million; +3.0%).
Profit before financial result (EBIT) jumped to € 7,945 million (2020: € 152 million; in the third quarter: € 1,756 million; 2020: € 1,477 million; +18.9%), giving an EBIT margin of 11.3% (2020: 0.3%) for the nine-month period and 7.8% (2020: 6.7%) for the three-month period from July to September 2021. As expected, the third quarter was impacted to a greater degree by higher raw materials prices and fixed costs (in particular R&D expenses) as well as by the lower sales volume.
The nine-month financial result recorded by the Automotive segment amounted to € 1,711 million (2020: € 615 million, in the third quarter: € 374 million, 2020: € 383 million). As described above, the main driving factors were the improved result from the at-equity accounted Chinese joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) and positive valuation effects recognised in other financial result arising on investments held by the BMW i Ventures fund as well as on the investment in SGL Carbon.
Segment profit before tax (EBT) amounted to € 9,656 million (2020: € 767 million) for the nine-month period and € 2,130 million (2020: € 1,860 million; +14.5%) for the third quarter.
Free cash flow generated by the Automotive segment amounted to € 1,397 million for the third quarter and to € 6,299 million for the nine-month period. The increase in cash flows from operating activities mainly reflected higher earnings before tax and the favourable development of working capital. Automotive segment free cash flow for the full year is expected to be in the region of € 6.5 billion.
Motorcycles segment reports higher revenues and earnings
BMW Motorrad delivered 156,609 motorcycles and maxi-scooters (2020: 129,599 units; +20.8%) to customers in the first nine months of 2021. With 48,999 units recorded during the third quarter, deliveries decreased compared to the previous year due to model changes and supply issues (2020: 52,892 units; -7.4%). Revenues rose significantly to € 2,262 million (2020: € 1,716 million; +31.8%) for the nine-month period, including € 641 million recorded in the third quarter (2020: € 637 million; +0.6%). Segment EBIT developed accordingly, rising significantly to € 323 million for the nine-month period (2020: € 110 million), but remaining below the previous year at € 39 million for the third quarter (2020: € 45 million; -13.3%). The segment EBIT margin came in at 14.3% (2020: 6.4%) for the nine-month period and 6.1% (2020: 7.1%) for the third quarter.
Financial Services segment reports strong growth in new business
The Financial Services segment reported significant growth in new business with retail customers in the period from January to September with 1,509,195 new credit financing and leasing contracts signed, up by 12.4% on the previous year (2020: 1,342,803 contracts). New business concluded with retail customers during the nine-month period also rose sharply by 16.2% to € 48,000 million (2020: € 41,311 million), with the Chinese market in particular contributing to the recorded growth.
In the third quarter, however, the supply-related reduction in deliveries resulted in a lower number of new contracts (2021: 479,850 new contracts; 2020: 538,351 new contracts; ‑10.9%).
Over the nine-month period, 50.7% of new BMW Group vehicles were either leased or financed by the Financial Services segment (2020: 50.5%; +0.2 percentage points).
Segment earnings developed extremely positively in both the three-month and nine-month periods. Segment profit before tax (EBT) reached a new record level with € 2,924 million (2020: € 1,039 million, in the third quarter: € 988 million; 2020: € 458 million). Higher revenues generated from the remarketing of lease returns, particularly in the USA and the UK also drove up earnings. Moreover, segment profit benefited from the favourable risk situation as well as the stable margins arising on new business.
BMW Group confirms adjusted outlook for full year
The BMW Group raised its outlook for the full year on 30 September. With its attractive product portfolio, it expects to continue benefiting from a sustained favourable product mix and positive pricing effects for new and pre-owned vehicles.
The BMW Group continues to forecast a Group profit before tax that is significantly higher than in the previous year.
The Automotive segment is expected to record a solid year-on-year increase in the number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers and RoCE is forecast to improve significantly.
The EBIT margin for the Automotive segment for the full year is set to finish within a range of 9.5% to 10.5% (outlook prior to the ad-hoc announcement dated 30 September: 7% to 9%).
The Financial Services segment is forecast to achieve a return on equity (RoE) for the full year within a range of 20 to 23% (outlook prior to the ad-hoc announcement: 17% to 20%) due to the improved risk situation.
The Motorcycles segment is expected to record a significant increase in deliveries on the back of a positive market trend. The EBIT margin is set to finish within a target range of 8 to 10%, leading to a considerably higher level of RoCE than one year earlier.
The BMW Group also reaffirms its forecast for non-financial performance indicators. Accordingly, the proportion of women in management functions is expected to increase slightly. At the same time, the BMW Group is targeting a further significant reduction in the carbon emissions generated by its EU new vehicle fleet. According to current expectations, carbon emissions per vehicle produced are likely to fall moderately.
The Group’s targets for the year are to be met with a slightly smaller workforce. Forecasts for the current year are based on the assumption that economic and political conditions worldwide will not change significantly. However, any deterioration of these factors could have a negative impact on the BMW Group’s outlook. “We are firmly on course to meet our outlook for the full year and we look ahead with confidence ,” said Nicolas Peter. “We expect the semiconductor supply situation to remain an issue beyond 2021.”
Source: BMW Group, https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0354812EN/bmw-group-boosts-performance-with-significantly-higher-earnings
