BMW - Competitors

BMW Competition

Now Viewing BMW's competition in: Automobile Manufacture (primary)

Recent Developments

California Sues EPA Over Denial of Emissions Waver - California sued the EPA in January 2008, arguing that the EPA had no legal or technical justification to deny the state's request for a waiver of federal auto emissions standards. California needed the waiver to implement its own stricter law to cut greenhouse gases from vehicles. Experts say that automakers oppose the waiver because they fear it would lead to a patchwork of state emission laws instead of one federal set.

Auto Sales Decline in 2007 - US auto sales fell 3 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year, according to Reuters. About 16 million vehicles were sold during 2007, the lowest number since 1998. Many experts say that continuing economic weakness could cause 2008 US auto sales to fall below 16 million.

Toyota may Become Global Sales Leader in 2008 - Toyota hopes to overtake GM as the world's largest automaker in 2008. While Toyota announced a worldwide sales target of 9.85 million vehicles for 2008, GM has been cutting production and sales forecasts as it struggles to overcome heavy dependence on gas-guzzling truck and SUV sales. GM has held the title of world's largest automaker for 76 years, and holds the record for most annual global vehicle sales with 9.55 million sold in 1978.

Competitive Landscape

The major drivers of US demand for autos are employment and interest rates. The profitability of individual companies depends on manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and effective marketing. Large companies manufacture multiple product lines, marketed under different brand names. Smaller companies manufacture a few or single product lines. Large companies have advantages of economy of scale; smaller companies compete by focusing on specialized markets. Due to highly automated manufacturing processes, the average annual revenue per employee is about $1.4 million.

Full Industry Overview For Automobile Manufacture

Automobile Manufacture Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US motor vehicles manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 6.5 percent between 2007 and 2012.

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Growth Recovers

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.