BMW M enjoys record sales globally and in Australia

BMW M GmbH continued its upward growth trajectory in 2020 with global sales reaching an all-time record of 144,218 units for the fiscal year. 

This represented a 6% increase on the corresponding period last year.

Later in 2021, BMW M GmbH will present an electrically powered performance vehicle for the first time, as the brand looks forward to celebrating its 50^th year of operation in 2022. 

BMW Group Australia also posted record sales of BMW M vehicles in 2020 with 4,659 new vehicle registrations. 

Australia is one of the world’s leading markets for BMW’s high-performance division with one in five vehicles sold wearing an M badge.

Sales of the X5 M Competition for the year were 108 for 2020 vs 16 in 2019, while registrations of the X6 M Competition were 79 versus 8 in 2019. Both the X5 M and X6 M saw introduction of highly acclaimed new generation models in early 2020. 

Sales of the X3 M and X4 M Competition, which first went on sale in 2019, were also up by 210% and 172% respectively. 

Other highlights included triple digit sales percentage increases for M135i xDrive, M340i xDrive and X7 M50i.

BMW M also continued to attract an increasing number of performance-oriented customers throughout the world. 

New records were achieved in both the USA and China, while sales were up by more than 60% cent in both Russia and Korea. In Italy, the rise was 47%. 

“The fact that we were able to conclude this exceptionally challenging year with yet a further record is great validation of our consistent growth strategy,” BMW M GmbH board chairman Markus Flasch says.

The initial focus for 2021 will shift to the world premiere of the BMW M5 CS, which will take place later this month. 

In March, all eyes will be on the market launch of the sixth-generation BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupé.

A classic manual shift will be offered alongside a Competition model that features an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. 

By the end of the year the BMW M3 and M4 Competition will be available with M xDrive. This will mark the first time these models will feature an all-wheel-drive system.  

In addition, the BMW M4 Convertible will launch during 2021 while the BMW M3 Touring will continue its series development process.  

“It is remarkable that it was possible to achieve the new sales record even before the launch of our most important models,” Flasch says. 

“The new BMW M3 and BMW M4 generation offers us the promise of dynamic growth in 2021 as well.” 

Flasch says the year 2022, when BMW M GmbH celebrates its 50^th anniversary, would be marked by “a year full of surprises”.

“If I mention the keyword special edition models, it should be clear what our customers can look forward to during the anniversary year,” he says.