German top-of-the-range carmaker BMW said Wednesday it clocked up record sales and profits in 2015 and would increase its dividend payout to shareholders.

Net profit rose by 10 percent to 6.4 billion euros in 2015 and, to mark the group's centenary, BMW planned to pay an increased dividend of 3.20 euros per ordinary share and 3.22 euros per preferred share, the statement said. Unit sales were up 6.1 percent at a new record of 2.247 million vehicles worldwide. Thanks to favorable exchange rates, revenues climbed by 14.6 percent to 92.2 billion euros.

Underlying or operating profit was up by 5.2 percent at 9.6 billion euros, "mainly on the back of sales volume growth." Looking ahead to the current year, BMW predicted that "the upward trend in worldwide sales volume is forecast to continue in 2016."