Australian registrations of BMW M cars increased by 19.7% in 2023 ranking the market number two in the world for sales of high-performance cars in the overall mix.
Globally, BMW M sales passed 200,000 units for the first time, with total volume up by 14.3% compared with 2022.
The local result secured Australia’s position as one of the important global markets for BMW M, with it ranked second in the world for the ratio of high-performance BMWs – such as the M3 – in the overall sales mix, and sixth in the world when combining high-performance cars with performance offerings such as the M340i xDrive, among overall volume.
It also follows BMW reclaiming leadership as the best-selling German premium brand in Australia for the first time in more than a decade.
The growth for BMW M comes in the wake of key high-performance model introductions, including the first-ever BMW M3 Touring, the first electrified high-performance model – the XM – and the second generation M2 Coupé.
Registrations of the M2 Coupé in Australia reached 479 units, highlighting its unique position in the segment with its rear-wheel-drive and the availability of a six-speed manual transmission.
The M3 Sedan was the bestselling BMW M model in Australia with 558 registrations, which was up more than 22% on the year before. The figure included registrations of the highly focused, 405kW BMW M3 CS special model, which launched in the second half of 2023.
Electric models, including the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Sedan and the BMW i7 M70 xDrive, headlined the rollout of BMW M’s performance models last year.
Another fully electric offering, the BMW i4 M50, was the bestselling BMW M model worldwide for the second year running.
BMW M GmbH management board chairperson, Franciscus van Meel, says the combination of advanced drive systems contributed to the overall sales result for BMW M.
“The financial year 2023 was characterised both by our highly successful portfolio of combustion engine vehicles and by our electrification offensive with two further all-electric performance models and our first electrified high-performance car, the BMW XM,” van Meel says.
“Not least the ongoing success of the BMW i4 M50 confirms that we are on the right track to advance the electrification of our product portfolio and to combine sustainable technologies with an emotionally powerful driving experience,” he says.
In 2024, BMW will diversify its product portfolio. In addition to the upcoming model revision for the three high-performance series models, the BMW M3, BMW M4 and BMW M2, the new edition of the BMW M5 is in the starting blocks for the current model year.
The new generation BMW M5 will also be available as Touring model. Before this, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring will complement the range of all-electric performance cars.
The core of the BMW M product range also sees the debut of the BMW M4 CS, a model that embodies racing passion with increased engine power and optimised weight.
Details about the above models for the Australian market are yet to be confirmed.
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