The U.S. economy is slowing; and the W. European economies are also slowing. BMW is also getting more cost conscious:
Der Spiegel came out w/ the news that that BMW AG plans to cut 8k jobs next year (albeit mainly temps).
http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBas...58453920071224
I suspect BMW wants to get ahead of the pressures on margins given the foregoing scenario - R&D is another area where the pencils can be sharpened.
Hey, BMW: it's hard to ask a premium price w/ a new product when the economic backdrop is getting tougher - globally (barring some searing growth in EM). I wonder if BMW is holding back because of nerves about this critical equation:
- new M3
- has tough competition (C63, GT-R ...)
- EUR/USD too high
- slowing macro environment
- housing slowdown in US (but also UK, IRL ...) = less 'house ATM'