Automaker BMW said Thursday it expects to sell between 38,000 to 40,000 BMW vehicles in Japan during 2002 by expanding its product lineup and opening new dealerships. The company sold 36,266 units in 2001.
Ludwig Willisch, president of BMW Japan Corp., said the company also hopes sales of its new Mini will reach 10,000 units. The 1,600cc car is scheduled to be released here in March.
The Japanese market is the fifth largest in terms of the BMW Group's worldwide sales, accounting for about 4 percent of the total.
BMW plans to have 215 sales outlets operating in Japan by the end of the year, up from the current 183. It will also establish 72 Mini sales outlets, Willisch said.
Foreign automakers sold 261,227 units in Japan during 2001, up 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Ludwig said BMW expects sales of imported cars this year to remain at the same levels as 2001.