New model boosts sales for BMW

MUNICH (Reuter) - BMW, the German luxury car maker, yesterday reported a 10.5 per cent rise in net profit for the first six months of 1992 and forecast that production in the full year would surpass the 1991 record.

The profit rise to DM421m ( pounds 152m) from DM381m last year was slightly below forecasts by analysts, who had expected profits to rise to DM440m.

BMW said first-half sales surged to DM16.16bn, 12 per cent higher than last year, mainly due to strong sales of the new 3 series, now available worldwide.

BMW's sales also reflected the gradual normalisation of the German car market following the boom after unification.

Sales in Germany rose 9.9 per cent to DM7.09bn while sales in other European countries rose more sharply, by 17 per cent to DM5.16bn.

Despite strong demand for all its models, BMW was cautious about the outlook for global car sales, saying it did not expect a full recovery this year while economies in Western Europe remained weak due to continued high interest rates.