F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > The 320i U.S. debut timing makes perfect sense now ...
GetBMWParts
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-17-2013, 01:25 PM   #1
Falafel Combo
Banned
United_States
3767
Rep
6,673
Posts

Drives: X5 xDrive50i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (3)

The 320i U.S. debut timing makes perfect sense now ...

European sales are down (a 22-year record low, actually) and U.S. sales are up. Solution? Sell more Euro cars in the U.S.

Problem solved.


2012 European sales numbers


2012 U.S. sales numbers
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 05:02 PM   #2
Tsuvoi
Banned
22
Rep
272
Posts

Drives: 2013 F30 328i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Could be but aren't these cars built to order anyway? When people order less they just build less. I don't think they have 1000's of 320i in storage to redirect to the US.
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 05:19 PM   #3
CarFan
First Lieutenant
United_States
45
Rep
386
Posts

Drives: 2013 X5 3.5 Premium
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by ft1337 View Post
Could be but aren't these cars built to order anyway? When people order less they just build less. I don't think they have 1000's of 320i in storage to redirect to the US.
Built to order? Have you ever gone to a dealership and see rows and rows of cars? Dealers estimate how many cars they are going to make but BMW certainly doesn't wait until a buyer has been identified before they build the cars. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you?
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 05:48 PM   #4
jsedlak
Lieutenant
jsedlak's Avatar
13
Rep
411
Posts

Drives: F30 335i 6spd
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Morristown, NJ

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarFan View Post
Built to order? Have you ever gone to a dealership and see rows and rows of cars? Dealers estimate how many cars they are going to make but BMW certainly doesn't wait until a buyer has been identified before they build the cars. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you?
My dealership has a row of 2013 M5's and M6's.

How many euro 320i's would be RHD though?
__________________
johnsedlak.com - web developer, designer
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 06:55 PM   #5
CarFan
First Lieutenant
United_States
45
Rep
386
Posts

Drives: 2013 X5 3.5 Premium
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
First of all this car is actually on sale in other parts of North and South America. They aren't ramping up production from nothing. I saw several at the dealership while I was in Cancun last fall. Secondly I meant that the cars aren't built after order unless buyers specifically request them. Dealers will do the lion share of ordering working with marketing people to come up with the packaging and pricing that will make selling easier.

But perhaps I'm misunderstanding what's being said. If so apologies.

As for the original poster, I think by euro cars he simply meant BMWs with the smaller outputs which are often sold overseas can be sold here in the US.

Last edited by CarFan; 01-17-2013 at 06:57 PM.. Reason: added sentence
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 07:28 PM   #6
DerekS
Major
DerekS's Avatar
196
Rep
1,180
Posts

Drives: '24 X3 M Sport
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: YVR

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarFan View Post
First of all this car is actually on sale in other parts of North and South America.
The F30 320i is popular in Canada, just like its predecessor the E90-323i. I expect that the 320i will be a volume seller in the US.

To the OP, the sales figures you referenced are for Sept.2012, during which BMW sales INCREASED in the EU by 10.5% !
__________________
on order: 2024 i4 eDrive40 M Sport, Tanzanite metallic with all options
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 07:45 PM   #7
Vector Pilot
Lieutenant
Vector Pilot's Avatar
United_States
35
Rep
501
Posts

Drives: 2014 Z4 28i
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago Metro

iTrader: (0)

I've revised my thinking and contrary to my earlier position, the 320i will be a success because it attracts buyers, including my wife, who are shopping for a sports sedan that offers value plus performance. Working with the configurator, and being selective with options and packages fills the needs many consumers are looking for in an upscale import.

Here's our latest configuration:

320xi BASE MSRP $34,550
Black Sapphire Metallic$550
Black Dakota Leather $1,450
Silver Matte Trim $0
Lighting Package $900
Sport Package $1,000
Heated front seats $500
Navigation system $2,150
BMW Assist with enhanced Bluetooth and USB $0

Destination & Handling: $895

Total MSRP as Built $41,995

Last edited by Vector Pilot; 01-17-2013 at 08:18 PM..
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 08:46 PM   #8
Falafel Combo
Banned
United_States
3767
Rep
6,673
Posts

Drives: X5 xDrive50i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarFan View Post

...

As for the original poster, I think by euro cars he simply meant BMWs with the smaller outputs which are often sold overseas can be sold here in the US.
Precisely. I like the way you said it much better.
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 08:49 PM   #9
Falafel Combo
Banned
United_States
3767
Rep
6,673
Posts

Drives: X5 xDrive50i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekS View Post
...


Congrats! Very nice looking car!
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 11:12 PM   #10
clarence
Lieutenant Colonel
53
Rep
1,544
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ft1337 View Post
Could be but aren't these cars built to order anyway? When people order less they just build less. I don't think they have 1000's of 320i in storage to redirect to the US.
Building less means overcapacity, which is currently the main problem for all volume European brands except VAG. The workers still get paid even if no cars are built.
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2013, 11:13 PM   #11
clarence
Lieutenant Colonel
53
Rep
1,544
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekS View Post
To the OP, the sales figures you referenced are for Sept.2012, during which BMW sales INCREASED in the EU by 10.5% !
For the full year EU sales are down substantially. The only market which grew was UK.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 07:54 AM   #12
Thud
Throbbing Member
42
Rep
1,433
Posts

Drives:
Join Date: Jan 2008

iTrader: (0)

If they have excess Euro-spec 320i's in inventory, they can't sell them in the US anyway.

They have to be built as US-spec cars in the first place.
__________________
2014 Tesla Model S 85kwh
Previous cars:
2011 335d / Deep Sea Blue / Saddle brown / sport / premium
2008 BMW 135i / 6MT
2002 Z06 Corvette
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 08:48 AM   #13
rob72
/dev/random
rob72's Avatar
31
Rep
353
Posts

Drives: .
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jsedlak View Post
My dealership has a row of 2013 M5's and M6's.

How many euro 320i's would be RHD though?
Apart from the UK and Ireland, the whole of Europe is RHD.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 09:03 AM   #14
rich1068
has left the building
United Kingdom
90
Rep
3,359
Posts

Drives: F30 330d M Sport
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Other way round.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:08 AM   #15
CarFan
First Lieutenant
United_States
45
Rep
386
Posts

Drives: 2013 X5 3.5 Premium
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by rich1068 View Post
Other way round.
+1

While BMW cares about each country/market it sells its cars in, overall it is focused on selling as many cars as possible. Just as when we special order a vehicle the factory designates a vehicle build already in process to modify to our special order, BMW can simply designate many of the existing F30s it planned to build as 328is as 320is.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:12 AM   #16
clarence
Lieutenant Colonel
53
Rep
1,544
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thud View Post
If they have excess Euro-spec 320i's in inventory, they can't sell them in the US anyway.

They have to be built as US-spec cars in the first place.
It has more to do with production allocation. There's one more market to allocate 320i production.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:20 AM   #17
Frencholivier
Private First Class
United_States
8
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: F30 LCI :)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greater NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vector Pilot View Post
I've revised my thinking and contrary to my earlier position, the 320i will be a success [...]
I wish every forum member had the balls to say it when they were wrong...
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:21 AM   #18
Frencholivier
Private First Class
United_States
8
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: F30 LCI :)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greater NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by clarence View Post
The workers still get paid even if no cars are built.
until they are fired...
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:26 AM   #19
Frencholivier
Private First Class
United_States
8
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: F30 LCI :)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greater NYC

iTrader: (0)

I think BMW had the idea of selling the 320i in the US for a very long time. (1) As someone else said, the 320i is already on sale in other parts of NA. (2) Audi is the real challenger to BMW and they have much lower-priced cars (sales price, not lease, and yes with FWD and CVT, but still BMW needs to address this cost competition. (3) BMW's corporate strategy is to grow on each and every market in a balanced way.

BMW sales in Europe have grown 10.5% in the previous year, which is absolutely remarkable given that Mercedes fell 6% and brands like Renault, PSA, Fiat, Opel took a 15-20% nosedive and are borderline bankrupt. Thank you, European crisis. Just like 2008-09 in the US, just much worse.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 10:50 AM   #20
clarence
Lieutenant Colonel
53
Rep
1,544
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frencholivier View Post
until they are fired...
Not likely in Germany. They have powerful trade unions.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 05:35 PM   #21
Frencholivier
Private First Class
United_States
8
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: F30 LCI :)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Greater NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by clarence View Post
Not likely in Germany. They have powerful trade unions.
Well, Germans would do salary freezes and furloughs, and they would still lay off people if needed.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2013, 05:55 PM   #22
clarence
Lieutenant Colonel
53
Rep
1,544
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frencholivier View Post
Well, Germans would do salary freezes and furloughs, and they would still lay off people if needed.
If the solution is so simple then GM could have solved the Opel problem very easily. Labour union members have seats on the supervisory board, & redundancy is the last resort.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:38 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST