BMW earnings near €10bn as SUV sales accelerate

BMW expects record sales this year as it reported a 5.3pc rise in 2017 operating profit on surging demand for high-margin sports utility vehicles, helping to offset higher research spending. Full-year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose to €9.88bn, it said yesterday, helping the operating margin in its automotive division to remain at 8.9pc, compared with a year earlier. BMW released earnings ahead of its scheduled annual results press conference on March 21. It said it would propose a divided of €4 per common share. Pictured above is BMW’s new Z4 car.