n the U.S. through a network of more than 340 car, 315 Sports Activity Vehicle and 160 motorcycle retailers. STRATEGIEStop The company has manufactured the first passenger car running on hydrogen ready for common use, though the production figures are limited by the lack of a respective filling station net. Dr Joachim Milberg, chairman of BMW, says the next stage is to win support from European governments and the EU to make the technology succeed and bring about a breakthrough. Shell is taking an active part in the hydrogen program and another big automotive name, Daimler Chrysler, is working with BMW on the program. Germany energy supplier ARWE is also involved. Fifteen BMW 7 Series cars are already using hydrogen in Berlin and Munich but there are only two commercial producers of liquid hydrogen in Germany. European drivers -- and American enthusiasts -- regard the MINI as an icon, and one of the most utilitarian automobiles ever produced in the world. Known as the "people's car" it was first introduced in 1959 and lasted for decades in virtually its original form. The new MINI is scheduled to be available in Europe in 2001 and U.S. in early 2002. Within the next two years, BMW plans to install Bluetooth technology in BMW cars to make the automobile into a mobile information platform. ADVERTISINGtopAccording to Publishing Information Bureau, in 1999, BMW's measured ad spending hit $80.4 million, up from the 76.7 million spent in 1998. Magazine advertising accounted for $ 47.1 million, an increase of 23.9% from 1998.FINANCIALStopBMW AG reported sales of US $30.07 billion for the year ending December of 1999. This represents an increase of 6.6% versus 1998, when the company's sales were 32.28 billion Euro. Sales at BMW AG have increased during each of the previous five years (and since 1994, sales have increased a total of 60%).BMW of North America, Inc. reported its strongest month ever in September 200...
