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Proceeds to Benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Auction from April 20-30

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time, BMW of North America will host a special online auction on eBay to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- the global grassroots movement dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Bidders will vie for the coveted 18th man position on the BMW ORACLE Racing Yacht until the auction closes on April 30th.

For more information go to BMW's website: www.bmwusa.com/sailing or www.ebay.com/bmw to place your bid. BMW will send the auction's highest bidder on a truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Valencia, Spain, where the they will occupy the 18th Man position on the BMW ORACLE Racing yacht during the 4th race of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals on May 18, 2007. And, there's more for the lucky winner -- if the BMW ORACLE Racing team wins and advances to the finals, they will take the 18th Man position a second time to race with the team in the America's Cup Finals.

The highest bidder will enjoy a four-day, three-night, trip to Valencia, including roundtrip airfare, 5-Star hotel accommodations at The Westin Valencia and $1000 spending money. In addition, Girard-Perregaux will offer the winner a luxurious R&D 01 Chrono -- USA 87 watch from its BMW ORACLE Racing collection watch (MSRP: $9,750).

"The America's Cup is the oldest active trophy in the world of sport, and the opportunity to occupy the 18th Man position in the tournament is sure to generate excitement and a tremendous level of interest," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW of North America. "Over the past 10 years, BMW has enjoyed a very successful and productive relationship with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and we are pleased to offer this additional opportunity to raise funds for such a worthy organization."

Perhaps the most prominent example of BMW's ongoing relationship with the nation's leading breast cancer nonprofit is its program, The Ultimate Drive Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which is a grassroots nationwide fundraising effort that has raised more than $10 million for the organization to date.

BMW and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have also partnered on three successful auctions/sweepstakes in the past. In 1999, BMW conducted the first-ever online auction of an automobile, offering bidders the first BMW X5 off the assembly line. The event raised $159,100 for the nonprofit. In 2002, BMW auctioned off an autographed BMW M5 driven by Madonna in the company's groundbreaking internet film series, "The Hire." And most recently, in 2003, the cast of the wildly popular sitcom "Friends" signed a BMW X3, which traveled across the country with The Ultimate Drive program before being raffled off to one lucky winner.

"BMW of North America has been a very supportive fundraising partner over the past decade, and as such has helped fund essential research and crucial services for patients, survivors and their families," said Hala Moddelmog, President and Chief Executive Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "We would like to thank BMW for continuing to support the cause by finding creative ways to involve the community and help fund our ongoing search for a cure."

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 81 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Source: BMW of North America