Book Description

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject Business economics - General, grade: 1,7, Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Business School), course: International Business Strategy, language: English, abstract: The BMW Group concentrates on selected premium segments in the automobile market. This means that it is the only multibrand automobile manufacturer in the world that is not active in the mass market, i.e. the volume segments of the automobile market. The aim of the premium brand strategy is to achieve higher revenues per vehicle, on the basis of a high-value product substance and an unmistakable brand profile. The BMW Group pursues this premium brand strategy with the BMW and MINI brands, and, since 1st January 2003, with Rolls-Royce. This means that it will cover the premium segments from the small car to the absolute luxury category. The premium brand is thus creating the preconditions for further profitable growth for the BMW Group. The Company expects that in the next ten years, the premium segments of the automobile market will grow worldwide by around 50%. In contrast, the mass volume segments will increase by "just" 25% or so during the same period. The BMW Group is aiming to achieve profitable growth in the future too, and in that order of priority - "profitable" followed by "growth". Beside their premium brand strategy, BMW wants to offer sportiveness and status. Compared to other car brands, BMW does not want to announce that they want to be an leader in technology or a global player. The slogan “BMW.Sheer driving pleasure” wants to show their concentration in a well developed and fun orientated car. That they indeed often develop at the latest state- of –art technology is not standing in the foreground. This is very tricky. The customers feeling that he and his fun is the most important thing for BMW gives him a feeling for being important. Being close to the customers fun is the message. And the customer knows quite well that the technique is also in the car.