BMW 5 Series orders exceed expectations

The all-new BMW 5 Series has exceeded its maker's own sales forecasts by a mile, according to a report by Bloomberg. Unveiled in November last year, the F10 5-Series was launched in Europe this past March and is apparently selling like the proverbial hot cakes. After losing money in 2009 the world's biggest maker of premium cars aims to improve its lot considerably in 2010. Cars like the X1 and 5-Series will help it achieve its target operating margin in the "lower one-digit percentage range." CEO Norbert Reithofer said his team is pushing for at least 1.3 million unit sales this year. However, challenges such as the lingering recession as well as Greece's financial problems and its effect on the euro currency could affect these plans. BMW took the top premium automaker crown from the Mercedes-Benz brand in 2005 and has not looked back since.