Alfardan Automobiles has reported a 9% growth for BMW and MINI sales for the first half of 2011 compared to the same period last year, a company official said. The official importer of BMW Group vehicles in Qatar ranked among the five best performing Middle East markets. The results signal the strength of the brand in the Qatari market.Alfardan Automobiles demonstrated its intention of completing yet another successful year for BMW Group sales in Qatar, as it announced that it had the highest growth for BMW premium selection sales, the company’s pre-owned car programme, achieving 152% sales growth over the first six months in 2010.Further to the announcement that it was the best-selling BMW Group vehicle across the Middle East, the BMW 5 Series had the highest sales growth in Qatar - 43% rise in sales over last year. The BMW 5 Series is a core product for BMW and combines sporting and elegant design, excellent comfort, the highest standard in efficiency in its class and sets the benchmark in driving dynamics and safety having recently achieved five-star in both the Euro NCAP and US NCAP vehicle safety assessment programmes.Contributing to Alfardan Automobiles solid performance in 2011, the flagship BMW 7 Series was the top selling BMW vehicle, with a growth of 4% over the same period last year. Combining ultimate style, comfort and luxury with supreme driving dynamics and pleasure, the BMW 7 Series has been designed around BMW’s robust efficient dynamics strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, making it the most fuel efficient engine in its class.“We have had a busy first half of 2011 and diversified our vehicle portfolio with the launch of three new models including the new BMW 6 Series convertible, BMW X3, and MINI Countryman. Furthermore, the continuous demand for vehicles from our existing line-up including the flagship BMW 7 Series, BMW 5 Series and X Range vehicles has allowed us to record sales growth once again,” Alfardan Automobiles general manager Mohammed Kandeel said.However, he said, the company will not allow success to make it complacent and will do its utmost to build upon the success for the remainder of the year.Overall, BMW Group Middle East has reported a 13% growth in sales for the first half of 2011 compared to the same period last year, the world’s most successful premium automotive manufacturer delivered a total of 9,134 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers across 14 Middle East markets.