Executives of BMW Financial Services NA, LLC celebrated a major expansion at the company's customer service center in Dublin, Ohio on May 31.

The company, which has nearly doubled in the past five years, is poised for continued growth as the BMW Group expands its presence in the U.S., according to John Christman, CEO of BMW Financial Services. "Our new addition has doubled the size of our building, enabling us to grow with the BMW Group," Christman said. "BMW sales in the U.S. have grown nearly 80 percent in the past five years and the BMW Group will be introducing additional BMW models and new brands to the U.S. in the coming years. Earlier this year, we launched a new division - MINI Financial Services - to support the MINI brand's new dealer network and customers as the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S go on sale in the U.S. next March.

"In a few years, the BMW Group will sell five different line-makes in the U.S.," Christman continued. "With respect to BMW, the company has announced plans for a smaller, entry-level BMW car to be priced below the popular 3 Series and the revival of the 6 Series with an all-new coupe and convertible. The company will also expand its BMW Sports Activity Vehicle line-up with a smaller X3. In addition, five new motorcycles are being introduced this year, with more planned."

"The BMW Bank of North America is growing, too, as more and more BMW customers discover the benefits of our credit cards, deposit products and insurance programs," Christman said. "We have more than 15,000 credit card customers and the number of customers for our deposit products is increasing, too."

Last year, BMW Bank of North America introduced a variety of banking products with support from the Dublin customer service center.

Since 1996, when the company moved into the original building at Parkcenter Circle, BMW Financial Services has seen a 93 percent growth in retail contracts. During those same five years, managed assets more than doubled and are now more than $11 billion, according to Christman.

"Our success is built on our people," Christman said. The BMW FS workforce has grown nearly 50 percent since 1996 and now totals 400 people, mostly in Dublin. The company is continuing to hire, and by the end of the year, more than 90 additional employees will work out of the newly expanded Dublin facility.

The expansion puts all of the employees who provide these services in one 118,000 square foot building. "We are in a position to provide the very best service to our growing customer base and accommodate future growth of our business," said Christman.

General contractor for this project is Duke-Weeks Construction, Columbus. Bird Houk & Associates is the design architect and Design Collective is responsible for the interior design.

About BMW Financial Services

BMW Financial Services North America was established in 1992 as a captive finance company to support the North and Latin American sales and marketing efforts of the BMW Group.

With more than $11 billion in managed assets and more than 364,000 customers, BMW FS leases or finances more than half of the new BMWs vehicles sold in the U.S. BMW FS employs about 400 people, most of whom are located in the Dublin, Ohio, Customer Service Center. BMW FS also services the Canadian market and recently opened a new Financial Services company in Brazil.

BMW Financial Services provides a wide range of leasing, retail, commercial, banking and insurance products tailored to meet the needs of BMW customers and dealers. All lease servicing, including credit underwriting, funding, customer service, title administration, lease-end and collections are handled at the Dublin customer service center.

A growing portfolio of banking, credit card and insurance offerings are also available through the BMW Bank of North America.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America has been present in the United States since 1975. Since then, the BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations for the BMW and MINI brands; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; DESIGNWORKS/USA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.

The BMW Group is represented in the U.S. through a network of more than 340 car, 315 sports activity vehicle and 160 motorcycle retailers.

BMW US Holding Corp., the group's headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Information about BMW Group products is available at www.bmwusa.com and www.miniusa.com.