Munich- A dramatic slump in year-end deliveries saw luxury carmaker BMW post its first annual decline in sales for 15 years, according to figures for 2008 released Friday.

The Munich-based company said it sold 1.44 million cars last year, a drop of 4.3 per cent compared to 2007 when BMW recorded its best year ever.

It was the first annual decline in sales since 1983 when the boom triggered by German unification three years earlier began to fade.

BMW had originally projected to sell 1.5 million cars last year, but had to scale back this target after the global financial crisis triggered an economic slowdown across the globe.

Most German carmakers, like their counterparts elsewhere, are reeling under the effects of the downturn and have been forced to slash production to offset a fall in demand.

On Thursday, Daimler AG said sales of its Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach models slumped 2 per cent in 2008 to 1.25 million vehicles.

BMW said its Mini and Rolls-Royce brands bucked the trend, with Mini sales up 4.3 per cent to 232,000 and Rolls-Royce selling 1,212 cars, an increase of 20 per cent.

Earlier, another luxury carmaker, Audi, said it sold slightly more than 1 million vehicles last year, an increase of 4.1 per cent over 2007.

In other date released Friday, GM subsidiary Opel said sales in Europe of Vauxhall and Opel models plunged 10.5 per cent last year to 1.46 million.

A survey released Thursday by consultants KPMG showed senior executives in the German car industry believed the situation would remain bleak for the next five years.

Manufacturers and parts suppliers anticipated falling profits, more insolvencies and a greater number of mergers and acquisitions between 2009-2013, according to the study of 200 companies. (dpa)