Uh Oh! BMW Postpones The X1, Again? With The Q3 Possibly Coming To The U.S., Is This A Bad Move?

There's no question that some of the German automakers, particularly Audi and BMW, are chasing market share wherever they can. They've even been adventurous enough to branch out into new niches.

And weirdly enough, one area that both brands haven't gotten into is the entry-level luxury sport-utility class. Audi is "considering" bringing the all-new Q3 to the U.S. market and according to BMWBlog, BMW has backed off bringing the highly successful -- in Europe -- X1 to the States. The latest report is saying that BMW will wait until 2012.

Now by backing off, is BMW missing the chance to come into this niche and really run the show? Could Audi come in and invade BMW's stomping grounds?

What say you, Spies?


At a recent BMW event, we learned that for now, the BMW X1 has been indefinitely postponed in the United States. In the following days, we learned through unofficial channels that the entry-level Sports Activity Vehicle remains on the U.S. roadmap and a tentative launch date will be in late 2012...

[Source: BMWBlog]


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CarCrazedinCali - 8/22/2011 11:27:01 PM

+1 Boost

makes zero sense to me why they are delaying

shabaru - 8/23/2011 12:16:45 AM

+2 Boost

If I was BMW.... I would be reaching for every opportunity to stay number 1 over Audi.... Sadly I was really looking forward to the launch of the X1

528i - 8/23/2011 4:43:05 AM

-4 Boost

ugly

JRobUSC - 8/23/2011 8:13:37 AM

+3 Boost

I wish they'd bring it here too, but the car is sold out and the plant is running at 100% capacity. Bringing it here wouldn't increase sales, because every unit we would get means one less unit somewhere else, so that would be a wash. Plus BMW makes a lot more on every X1 they sell outside the U.S., so bringing it here would actually cost them money since it would mean taking vehicles away somewhere else. So I wish we had it, but it's not hard to understand why we don't.

rom64 - 8/23/2011 9:49:50 AM

+1 Boost

Actually the X1 is already selling in Canada. So it's not an issue of economies of scale with regards to Europe or NA. My bet is it is stuck in NHTSA red-tape waiting to be processed & cleared for sale. Canada has usually been a test market of Mercedes & BMW for the U.S. Only a matter of time until it arrives.

Joe_Limon - 8/23/2011 10:27:58 AM

+2 Boost

I seen an x1 on the streets, I wasn't sure if it was being sold here yet because under the Canadian license plate was the original euro plate.

MeanVulcan - 8/23/2011 10:09:15 AM

0 Boost

My guess is that they are on the fence regarding diluting the luxury image with basic, more economic models. This goes for Audi and MB, but at least Audi can manage by selling entry VWs instead of Audis.
The capacity issue is a non-issue (almost) since you can look to increase production if you have a strategy to sell more cars. You can do so by using another manufacturing facility where you may fit additional production or simply invest in adding capacity as needed.

IamEvilHomer - 8/24/2011 11:47:13 AM

-4 Boost

did you say 1 series or x3? can't get any cheeper

JRobUSC - 8/25/2011 5:36:52 PM

+2 Boost

seriously? The Audi salesman is calling out BMW as "cheep" (sic) for building a 1-Series and X3? You have heard of the A1, A2, A3, Q1, Q3, and Q5 right? All of which are equal to or under the 1-Series and X3.

dlin - 8/23/2011 10:51:35 AM

-4 Boost

Everyone know how cheap you are driving a 1 series. BMW knows how not to make the same mistake twice.

bmwm6 - 8/23/2011 12:54:36 PM

+5 Boost

The 1 series starts at 30K...Thats 3K higher than the A3's starting price.

DeutschlandV8 - 8/23/2011 1:22:41 PM

+6 Boost

In Germany the a base A1 is about 3 grand less than a base Mini cooper.

IamEvilHomer - 8/24/2011 11:48:33 AM

-4 Boost

but BMW is advertising $299 lease payments on the 3series
Cheepppp

M5twinturbo - 8/25/2011 8:33:27 AM

+4 Boost

"but BMW is advertising $299 lease payments on the 3series"

Audi has the same lease deals lol, also didnt they have to lower the base price of the A6 to get customers.

Sam1 - 8/23/2011 2:51:07 PM

+1 Boost

I see them all the time out here in Germany, sorry but not impressed by the exterior. If your looking for an inexpensive BMW and decent gas mileage then go for it, but IMHO It looks cheap.