BMW global sales record marred by strike threat

The firm, which also owns the luxury Rolls-Royce marque, said worldwide sales soared to a new record for the first quarter, fuelled by rising deliveries in China and the United States.

Total sales hit 425,528 vehicles, a hike of 11.2 per cent on a year earlier, with the BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands breaking quarterly records.

First-quarter sales in the US were up 16.6 per cent at 75,829 cars and deliveries in China leapt 36.8 per cent to 80,014.

The carmaker, which is due to publish its first-quarter financial results on 3 May, said it expected the strong sales performance to continue throughout the year.

Sales chief Ian Robertson said: “These outstanding results are due to our attractive, young model range and our strategy of healthy, balanced growth across the globe.

“We aim to continue the momentum with additional new models this year.”

However, hundreds of workers at the Mini factory yesterday rejected a pay offer, raising the spectre of the first strike at the site since 1984, when it was owned by Rover.

Unite, the trade union, said its 2,000 members at the plant had voted by 97 per cent against a deal, which includes a 2.2 per cent pay rise, because of “strings” attached.

It said it was in dispute over a bonus payment and an agreement over extra hours and rest periods.

Talks are set to take place, but Unite said it will press ahead with preparations for an industrial action ballot.

National officer Roger Maddison said: “There are more strings to this deal than a puppet show and the workers at BMW will not accept it. The truth is that BMW has made a pay offer of just over 2 per cent, and the rest of the deal comes with significant strings attached.

“The union never closed the door on talks and we are happy to get back around the table, but we are also making preparations to ballot our members for strike action.

“The majority of the workforce work 11-hour shifts, and more and more productivity demands are being made by BMW. Rather than try to claw back every penny it can, BMW should be treating its workforce with dignity.”

Rover owned the factory the last time there was industrial action, but BMW now makes the top-selling Mini hatch and its Clubman and Coupe variants at the site.

A spokesman for BMW said the overall offer was worth much more, adding: “It is disappointing that the company’s offer of a 6 per cent pay increase has been rejected. A date has been set to recommence negotiations with our union representatives.”

• Volkswagen has also reported record first-quarter sales, continuing an export-driven surge that contrasts with Europe’s slack economy. The firm sold 1.36 million vehicles, an increase of 10.5 per cent.