Ten Years of Unstoppable Success for the BMW X5

MULGRAVE, Australia – January 23, 2009: BMW driving pleasure entered a completely new market segment ten years ago with the debut of the BMW X5.

Presented at the North American International Auto Show in 1999, the BMW X5 re-wrote the rule book on Sports Activity Vehicles.

For the first time, excellent on-road manners were perfectly blended with a spacious, stylish and versatile premium all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Over 845,000 customers have since taken delivery of the BMW X5, including close to 23,000 Australian customers.

The immediate success of the BMW X5 inspired an entire segment of all-wheel drive competitors.

Now in its second generation, the BMW X5 remains the benchmark in its class in terms of driving dynamics, efficiency, versatility, premium quality and safety.

BMW has further developed the Sports Activity Vehicle concept and today there are three BMW X models to choose from, with a fourth ready for series production next year.

The BMW X5 arrived in Australia at the start of 2001 and has been a perennial favourite. In 2008, a record number of BMW X5’s (3,408 units) were delivered in Australia.

The first diesel powered BMW X5 arrived locally in 2003 and today diesel variants account for 76 per cent of sales.

Thanks in part to the unstoppable success of the BMW X5; BMW is today the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium all-wheel drive vehicles.