BMW Sales Go Cold In December DOWN 16.6% - Walks Away With A 1.8% Increase In 2015

BMW Sales Go Cold In December DOWN 16.6% - Walks Away With A 1.8% Increase In 2015

Sales of BMW brand vehicles in December totaled 34,625 compared to 41,526 vehicles sold in December 2014. For the year, BMW brand is up 1.8 percent on sales of 346,023 compared to 339,738 from last year, breaking last year's all time sales record.

"The new sales record in 2015 is the third record year in a row for BMW with the numbers further emphasizing the growth of luxury trucks, which are now one-third of BMW sales in the U.S.," said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. "I fully expect our Sports Activity Vehicles to be the key driver of growth in the new year with both demand and availability increasing.  As the maker of the Ultimate Driving Machine, the record sales of our high-performance BMW M brand in the U.S. is especially satisfying and we are looking forward to the new M4 GTS and the all-new M2 coming this year."

To see and hear more of Ludwig Willisch's business perspective, click here.

Of note in 2015:

The BMW X5 set a new sales record with 54,997 sold, nearly 17% more than 2014.  The BMW i3 EV in its first full year of sales in the U.S. reached 11,024 sold.

The BMW M brand set a new U.S. sales record with 14,504 cars sold, an increase of 68 percent over 2014.

BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported December sales of 39,634 vehicles, a decrease of 17.7 percent from the 48,141 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.  At year end, BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) is up 2.2 percent on sales of 404,537 compared to 395,850 in 2014, a new record for the BMW Group U.S.

MINI Brand Sales
For December, MINI USA reports 5,009 automobiles sold, a decrease of 24.3 percent from the 6,615 sold in the same month a year ago.  For the year, MINI USA sales are up 4.3 percent to 58,514 compared to 56,112 in 2014.



cidflekkencidflekken - 1/5/2016 4:20:51 PM
0 Boost
BMW's timing of the 335i to 340i transition at the end of the year clearly affected them. Similar to how some of Mercedes' transitional models affected their numbers.


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 1/5/2016 4:44:55 PM
+1 Boost
While I think M2 will be a big hit BMW hasn't given me a reason in years to visit the showroom with its one style(inside and out) fits all sizes. Time to break the mold and add some styling sizzle !


ilovecar2015ilovecar2015 - 1/5/2016 4:56:14 PM
+3 Boost
What happened to 3-series? I imagine the majority of their 3-series sales are 320/328, not 340 (the transition part)


cidflekkencidflekken - 1/6/2016 11:14:58 AM
+1 Boost
The 320i and 328i I guess, technically, also were in transition as all of the updates to the 340i, sans new engine, were applied to those models.


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 1/5/2016 5:41:57 PM
+1 Boost
Mercedes had a similar drop for December 2015 vs December 2014, and BMW ended up "winning" the 2015 luxury sales crown (in "quotes" because I hate the BMW/Benz quest for volume instead of excellence, but that's a story for a different thread). Regardless, December 2015 for both companies was still huge, and only look "negative" in comparison to their record setting Decembers last year.


Dr550Dr550 - 1/6/2016 12:55:47 AM
+1 Boost
Agree. Sales "crown" is BS. I hope the i5, 5-series, and X7 are solid home runs.


MDarringerMDarringer - 1/5/2016 7:58:11 PM
+1 Boost
BMW I think is in a crisis. The all-new, forward-thinking 7 Series looks 10 years old. The new 5 Series looks dated. BMW like Audi is doing stand-still designs. How ironic it is that Mercedes' ghetto chic is paying off.


W208W208 - 1/5/2016 9:02:30 PM
+2 Boost
BMWs designs are boring, their pricing, both new and used, is astronomical and their reliability is on the same level as Land Rover. I'm not surprised their sales are in the shitter.

They need to stop with the Russian Doll concept of design and actually distinguish each class of vehicle. Then maybe people wouldn't care the engines are bombs on wheels.


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 1/6/2016 6:45:28 AM
+3 Boost
If by "BMW's sales in the shitter" you mean "#1 for 2015 and four of the last five years" then yes, their sales are "in the shitter". I guess that would put #2 Lexus and #3 Mercedes in the sewer, and (very distant) #4 Audi in the Port-O Potty.

W208 is a Mercedes reference, correct? You do see the irony of a Mercedes fan calling out another brand for the "Russian nesting dolls" thing? The C, S, and now upcoming E are virtually indistinguishable from each other outside (and the E and S outside AND inside). Same with the SLC and SL, and the GLC, GLE, and GLS -- look the same, differentiated by size. This used to be an Audi thing, but Mercedes is now king of the Russian nesting dolls. No brand makes cars that look as much alike as Benz now. None.


poot66poot66 - 1/6/2016 8:19:14 AM
+1 Boost
JRob, sorry to inform that that is the worst argument I've heard all year, you can't use facts and statics against trolls like W208.

The only way to argue against ludicrous opinions and conjecture is to pile on your opinion in a manor that is more assertive and state it more assuredly no matter how absurd it sounds.... If you can pull it off the more outrageous the claim the better.

Thumbs up though because some of us like logic while other's troll threads looking for an opportunity to drop piles of, "opinion" wherever they can.


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 1/6/2016 8:39:55 AM
0 Boost
I think both arguments are right. BMW sales sets records because its drive to become a force in mass markets is succeeding as aspirational consumers find lease prices to fit their budgets. To true enthusiasts and long term BMW fans the brand has lost its way...foregoing performance cars with great tactile feel and distinctive style advances every second generation. Profits and sales sustain BMW in a competitive world but size and sameness drives many enthusiasts to look elsewhere to
satisfy their passion and driving pleasure. The P&L is strong "The Ultimate Driving Machine" theme is becoming stale in enthusiasts minds. Just one man's opinion but I don't think I'm alone. Just saying I loved my 325is, my first generation M3, my 335i red sedan and other BMW's of the past but cannot bring myself to going to a show room lately.


4ron4ron - 1/11/2016 1:39:32 PM
+1 Boost
It doesn'tsurprise me that BMW's sales were barely up for the year. They have taken the "ultimate driving" connection out of their vehicles and the model lineup looks too homogeneous. We love our 135i coupe!
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