BMW posts strong 2021 results, but chip troubles hit Q4 business

BERLIN — BMW more than doubled pre-pandemic earnings in 2021 to 16 billion euros ($17.67 billion), the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Higher prices and strong sales of top-end cars boosted revenue despite supply chain constraints.

The automaker, which sold a record 2.52 million vehicles last year despite semiconductor shortages, reported a 10.3 percent earnings margin for the year, its highest since 2017.

Still, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in its automotive segment took a 4.2 percent hit in the fourth quarter as the global chip shortage, which BMW has so far weathered better than competitors, caused a drop in deliveries of 14 percent.

Quarterly net profit for the group came in at 2.25 billion euros ($2.5 billion), a third higher than last year but well below 2019 levels of 5.02 billion euros.

Premium automakers have largely been better positioned to weather supply chain troubles than mass-market brands because they can push higher costs onto consumers through elevated prices.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, registered a 25 percent fall in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2021, but still boosted its EBIT by 12 percent in its cars and vans division.

BMW’s revenues climbed 12.4 percent from last year to 111 billion euros, with net profit reaching a record high of 12.46 billion euros.

“We are in a good position and optimistic about the future,” Chief Financial Executive Nicolas Peter said.

The company will propose a dividend of 5.8 euros per share, up from last year’s 1.9 euros, the company said.