????雖然經(jīng)濟(jì)環(huán)境依舊艱難，但美國進(jìn)口豪車市場的銷量卻有增無減。其中有一家汽車廠商尤為突出，不僅僅是由于它眼下的表現(xiàn)十分搶眼，同時也是因為它對未來戰(zhàn)略的開發(fā)。這家公司就是寶馬集團(tuán)（BMW）。寶馬并沒有沉浸在往昔和當(dāng)下的輝煌里，而是正在緊鑼密鼓地投資新的結(jié)構(gòu)技術(shù)，不斷向后汽油時代世界的縱深挺進(jìn)。

????首先看看眼下。年關(guān)將至，又到了車型更新?lián)Q代的時候。寶馬的兩款暢銷車型——寶馬3系和寶馬1系的產(chǎn)量都有所下降，但2011年前10個月，寶馬品牌在美國的銷量還是上漲了13%，達(dá)到了199,552輛。在豪車銷量排行榜上，寶馬和第一名梅塞德斯奔馳（Mercedes-Benz）的差距已經(jīng)越來越小。

????寶馬的Mini品牌表現(xiàn)得也不錯。自從推出Mini Countryman微型SUV以來，Mini今年的銷量已經(jīng)從38,538臺上漲到了47,050臺。唯一拖了后腿的是勞斯萊斯，這個品牌的銷量增幅只處在較低的兩位數(shù)上。即便如此，跟已經(jīng)一躍成為世界第一大汽車市場的中國相比，寶馬在美國的表現(xiàn)還是相形見絀。今年第三季度，寶馬在中國的銷量躍升了21%，盡管中國經(jīng)濟(jì)正在降溫，但寶馬仍有信心在中國保持強勁的增長勢頭。

????強勁的銷量也給寶馬的財務(wù)業(yè)績注入了強大的活力。今年前三季度，寶馬的稅前收入比去年同期猛增44%，稅前利潤上升21%，汽車業(yè)務(wù)的營業(yè)利潤達(dá)11.9%，不僅令奔馳黯然失色，也讓一名分析師驚呼，寶馬確實“在執(zhí)行上戰(zhàn)勝了”奔馳這個老對手。寶馬董事長諾伯特?雷瑟夫的喜悅之情自然溢于言表，他說：“今年我們創(chuàng)造了公司歷史上銷量最好的第三季度。在這段時間里，我們的銷量、收入和收益都創(chuàng)造了新記錄。”

????分析人士的意見幾乎也是一致的：寶馬是世界上管理最好、財務(wù)狀況最好的汽車廠商之一，有著偉大的品牌。寶馬還會繼續(xù)從車型的改進(jìn)、成本重組以及中國的經(jīng)濟(jì)增長中獲益。

????與此同時，寶馬還在積極削減開發(fā)成本和生產(chǎn)成本。分析人士指出，寶馬1系和3系的零部件成本將分別節(jié)省7%和9%。寶馬按固定價格采購了許多零部件，用于新車型終身使用。此外，寶馬的汽車測試成本也降低了30%。

????雖然眼下寶馬的表現(xiàn)已然十分驚人，但它的好日子還在前頭。定價最低的寶馬1系今年9月在法蘭克福車展發(fā)布，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)開始在全歐洲鋪貨。寶馬3系是寶馬的主打車型，它的銷量超過了寶馬美國市場銷量的半數(shù)，如今新的寶馬3系也將在2012年到店開售。早期的評測雖然不能讓人完全信服，不過寶馬的工程師們還是完成了一個驚人的壯舉：新寶馬3系的尺寸比老款更大，但重量卻輕了90磅。?

????Amid this difficult economic environment, sales of import luxury cars in the U.S. have actually improved. One manufacturer in particular stands out -- not just for its performance today but also for its development of future strategies. That company is BMW Group. Instead of merely indulging in its prosperity, it is investing in new structural technologies and venturing ever further into the post-oil world.

????First, a look the present. BMW brand sales in the U.S. for the first ten months of 2011 were up 13%, even though production of its two best-selling models, the 3-series and 1-series, is winding down in anticipation of model changeovers. With unit sales of 199,552, BMW is closing in on Mercedes-Benz for luxury car sales leadership.

????BMW's Mini brand isn't doing badly either. With the addition of the Countryman SUV, its sales have climbed this year to 47,050 from 38,538. The only group laggard is Rolls-Royce, which is selling in the low double digits. BMW's performance in the U.S. paled in comparison to China, now the world's largest car market. Sales there jumped 21% in the third quarter, and BMW is confident it can maintain the momentum even as the Chinese economy cools.

????These robust sales have supercharged financial results. BMW's third-quarter earnings before interest and taxes rose by 44% year over year, while profit before tax went up 21%. The operating profit on autos was 11.9%, dwarfing Mercedes and causing one analyst to crow that BMW was simply "out-executing" its longtime competitor. An understandably ebullient chairman Norbert Reithofer said "We have recorded the best third quarter in the company's history. During this period, we achieved new records for sales volume, revenues, and earnings."

????The opinion of analysts is almost unanimous: BMW remains one of the best-managed and best- positioned OEMs globally, with a great brand. It should continue to benefit from an improving model range, cost-restructuring, and growth in China.

????BMW is also making an aggressive effort to reduce development and piece costs. Analysts say it will save 7% to 9% on parts costs for both the 1 and the 3. Many parts and components have been purchased at fixed prices for the lifetime of the new model. BMW has also lowered vehicle-testing costs by 30%.

????With this remarkable performance in hand, BMW's best days lie ahead of it. The new 1-Series, its lowest-priced line, was unveiled at the Frankfurt show in September and is now being rolled out across Europe. The new 3-series, the model line that accounts for more than half of BMW's U.S. sales, will reach dealers in 2012. Early reviews are inconclusive, but its engineers have achieved the remarkable feat of making the 3 larger while still reducing its weight by 90 pounds.