BMW M on track for best-ever sales in 50th year
M GmbH promised to make a big splash to celebrate its half-century. Its customers have responded
Ahead of the new BMW M2 reveal late tomorrow night, the manufacturer has confirmed that its latest quarterly results put M GmbH ‘on track’ to achieve an all-time sales record in its 50th anniversary year. The latest numbers suggest that the performance division is only slightly ahead of last year at 124,459 cars sold, but on the basis that 2021 was itself a record-breaker, the firm is clearly confident that it will overhaul its previous best effort. And with the M3 Touring set to launch in the fourth quarter, who are we to argue with that assessment?
However, while 2022 has certainly been a banner year for combustion M cars - let’s not forget we’ve also had the new M4 CSL, a revised X3 M, updated M340i and X7 M60i among others - BMW suggests that its recent performance is due to the ‘tailwind’ created by the launch of the first two fully-electrified M Performance models, the i4 M50 and the iX M60. One, you’ll recall is 437hp saloon capable of 0-62mph in less than 4 seconds. The other is best thought of as gateway drug to the XM.
Certainly, though, the electric car angle fits into the wider sales narrative. The company reckons it has shifted 128,196 fully-electric BMW and Minis in the first nine months of 2022 - a number which effectively doubles last year’s results. Together with the iX3, it is the i4 and iX (regardless of spec) driving that figure, with additional help now expected from the incoming i7 and just revealed iX1.
“The dynamic growth of our fully-electric models reflects how the BMW Group’s electric lineup is winning over customers – as we continue to press ahead with the transition towards electromobility,” said Pieter Nota, BMW’s board member for Customer, Brands, Sales. Don’t expect the firm to rest on its laurels either: the new BMW i5 is due in 2023, alongside the first battery-electric Rolls-Royce, the Spectre. But M2 first, with a new six-cylinder motor, rear-drive and, yes, the option of a manual gearbox. Maybe snap that up while you can, eh?
The amount of times I've read "Why are BMW doing this? They won't sell these ugly cars" (or a variant thereof) on here makes me smile as people saying this really have no clue what they're talking about.
BMW exist to be a profitable business, not to appeal to some beards harping on about the dusty old cars they made in the past, and with the sea change that is coming to motoring in relation to BEVs, the fact they're able to have their best ever sales year for M-division car is very impressive to me.
I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next as clearly, the majority of people who buy M-division cars may not be driving enthusiasts, but they ARE paying customers and those are the people who matter.
Anecdotally, having shown the new XM SUV to as many 'non-car' people as I possibly could, it has been almost unanimously met with a positive reaction!
The amount of times I've read "Why are BMW doing this? They won't sell these ugly cars" (or a variant thereof) on here makes me smile as people saying this really have no clue what they're talking about.
BMW exist to be a profitable business, not to appeal to some beards harping on about the dusty old cars they made in the past, and with the sea change that is coming to motoring in relation to BEVs, the fact they're able to have their best ever sales year for M-division car is very impressive to me.
I never cared about BMW before, but now I think they are great. And I actually ordered new i4 m50, my first BMW. Shame the waiting list was almost 2years, so I had to cancel...
The amount of times I've read "Why are BMW doing this? They won't sell these ugly cars" (or a variant thereof) on here makes me smile as people saying this really have no clue what they're talking about.
BMW exist to be a profitable business, not to appeal to some beards harping on about the dusty old cars they made in the past, and with the sea change that is coming to motoring in relation to BEVs, the fact they're able to have their best ever sales year for M-division car is very impressive to me.
I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next as clearly, the majority of people who buy M-division cars may not be driving enthusiasts, but they ARE paying customers and those are the people who matter.
Anecdotally, having shown the new XM SUV to as many 'non-car' people as I possibly could, it has been almost unanimously met with a positive reaction!
TX.
I'm not particularly a fan of a lot of their recent output, but I can also appreciate that current legislative requirements impose a significant restriction on all new car designs and technical specifications. And most importantly of all, I can also appreciate that BMW didn't become a €200bn + global company by relying on the wisdom of random, anonymous people on the internet. They pay lots of incredibly bright and very experienced people a lot of money, and they know exactly what they are doing, whether we appreciate it or not.
t - a million flies can't be wrong ...I'm not particularly a fan of a lot of their recent output, but I can also appreciate that current legislative requirements impose a significant restriction on all new car designs and technical specifications. And most importantly of all, I can also appreciate that BMW didn't become a €200bn + global company by relying on the wisdom of random, anonymous people on the internet. They pay lots of incredibly bright and very experienced people a lot of money, and they know exactly what they are doing, whether we appreciate it or not.
Yet we are just as close to 2050 as we are to 1975.
I've owned a lot BMW M cars, but from better times, like 5 times different BMW E30 m3 2 times BMW M roadster (Z3) and 4 times a M coupe (Z3)
all in different states of change/tuning/standard.
and some made M cars incl M engine like:
-E30 320i converted with M5 340hp six in line
-E36 Compact converted to M3 compact 320hp
M fun, I hope one day they make some other retro lined short 2 seater M car max around 4000 mm with wide hips and nice flows.
and a M supercar with minimum a V8, low and mean, not to big, say modern M1 version
and a M 2+2 not big or high, but for daddy's with small kids, so they can have fun as well.
al mentioned cars must be small, low, wide-ish and light, giving max drivers fun, does not have to be the fastest, but must give a real M feel to the driver.
I'm not particularly a fan of a lot of their recent output, but I can also appreciate that current legislative requirements impose a significant restriction on all new car designs and technical specifications. And most importantly of all, I can also appreciate that BMW didn't become a €200bn + global company by relying on the wisdom of random, anonymous people on the internet. They pay lots of incredibly bright and very experienced people a lot of money, and they know exactly what they are doing, whether we appreciate it or not.
The amount of times I've read "Why are BMW doing this? They won't sell these ugly cars" (or a variant thereof) on here makes me smile as people saying this really have no clue what they're talking about.
BMW exist to be a profitable business, not to appeal to some beards harping on about the dusty old cars they made in the past, and with the sea change that is coming to motoring in relation to BEVs, the fact they're able to have their best ever sales year for M-division car is very impressive to me.
I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next as clearly, the majority of people who buy M-division cars may not be driving enthusiasts, but they ARE paying customers and those are the people who matter.
Anecdotally, having shown the new XM SUV to as many 'non-car' people as I possibly could, it has been almost unanimously met with a positive reaction!
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