BMW used cars division showing steady growth

As the credit crunch continues to bite, figures show an increasing number of drivers are turning to used cars as a way to cut costs. In fact, BMW's used car programme, BMW Premium Selection (BPS), has grown by 130 per cent in Bahrain alone in the first quarter of 2009 and across the Middle East figures are continuing to rise showing a 59 per cent increase on 2008. The BPS programme is relatively new at just two-and-a-half-years old and is part of BMW's commitment to quality. The advantage of buying a car from the BPS programme is the owner receives a one year guarantee and the car has to pass the most stringent tests to be part of the programme. James Crichton, above, sales and marketing director, BMW Group Middle East said: "BMW Premium Selection operates as a sub-brand within BMW Group which must follow set criteria including: * Vehicles must be less than five years old. * Mileage under 100,000 km. * Serviced by authorised BMW importers. * Vehicles must pass a stringent 75-point technical check by trained BMW technicians before they are accepted into the programme and sold. "A 12-month service and engine warranty with road side assistance is given to each customer when purchasing a BMW Premium Selection vehicle." On the effect of the economic climate on used car sales, he added: "Certainly we are seeing consumer attitudes begin to shift in line with the value cycle as many people are keen to make their money work harder. "Second-hand goods that will see high demand will be those that consumers can easily identify as affordable but also offer a level of quality that justifies the outlay." However, he added that used sales were not expected to outstrip those of new cars.