Munich - Sales by car manufacturer BMW in the company's important market in the United States dropped 9.7 per cent in 2008 from the prior year, the Munich-based company reported Monday.

Total sales amounted to 303,190, the company reported.

For December 2008, the number of vehicles sold in the US market dropped 35.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2007.

The company reported that sales for the BMW brand fell 40.2 per cent for December while the sales of the compact Mini remained stable, rising 0.1 per cent compared to December 2007. (dpa)