BMW warns of difficult 2019 as it posts forecast-beating 2018 profit

BMW warns of difficult 2019 as it posts forecast-beating 2018 profit
The new BMW The 7 is displayed at the 89th Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland March 5, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Copyright DENIS BALIBOUSE(Reuters)
By Reuters
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - BMW's full-year operating profit fell 7.9 percent to 9.12 billion euros (7.8 billion pounds), beating analyst expectations thanks to cost and efficiency measures, even as the German carmaker warned on Friday about a difficult year ahead.

Chief Executive Harald Krueger said, "The challenges facing the entire sector are unlikely to diminish in the coming months. Great efforts will therefore be needed across the entire Group to help shape the sector's transformation under such conditions."

The earnings before interest and taxes were higher than the 8.94 billion euros anticipated in a poll.

The carmaker said its return on sales for the automotive division fell to 7.2 percent compared with 9.2 percent a year earlier, as investments into electric cars and difficulties getting cars certified to new emissions tests weighed on profit.

(Reporting by Edward Taylor; editing by Thomas Seythal)

Share this articleComments

You might also like