BMW Continues To Stumble With September Sales Dropping By 4.6%

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 4.6 percent in September for a total of 25,389 compared to 26,608 vehicles sold in September, 2015. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is down 7.9 percent in the U.S. on sales of 230,133 vehicles compared to 249,956 sold in the first nine months of 2015.

Notable vehicle sales in September include the BMW 7 Series which increased to 1,201 cars, the BMW X1 which increased to 2,463 vehicles, and the BMW X3 which increased to 3,829 vehicles.

"Once again, our Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs) are leading the way, accounting for 44% of BMW September sales, the second month in a row for such a percentage," said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. "At the same time, I am also pleased to see demand for our flagship 7 Series continuing to increase with solid numbers over a year ago."

BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported September sales of 29,413 vehicles, a decrease of 5.2 percent from the 31,022 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group sales are down 8.8 percent on sales of 269,044 vehicles in the first nine months of 2016 compared to 294,930 in the same period in 2015.

MINI Brand Sales
For September, MINI USA reported 4,024 automobiles sold, a decrease of 8.8 percent from the 4,414 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 38,911 automobiles sold, a decrease of 13.5 percent from 44,974 automobiles sold in the first nine months of 2015.

carsnyc - 10/3/2016 2:29:56 PM

+2 Boost

The mighty 3 going downhill and the 7 (yes the 7!) closing up on the 5. We, who love cars are definitely living interesting times

Car4life1 - 10/3/2016 6:25:18 PM

+2 Boost

Whats sad is even with BMW's new lease offer on the 320i for 299/36 months, which positions it below the CLA 250 which goes for around 350/36 months, Bimmer still cant hold steady.

This tells me they have to make drastic changes to their interiors as well as exteriors if they expect to buck this trend of the next model year generation across the lineup.

The Next Gen 3 series is going to be the most important car for BMW as it will showcase the future of Bimmer's design language both inside and out

Time will only tell

ilovecar2015 - 10/3/2016 3:00:51 PM

+2 Boost

With these numbers, BMW might even lost its chance on finishing #2 ahead of Lexus, let alone MB.

carsnyc - 10/3/2016 4:04:02 PM

+1 Boost

Year-to-date, Merc and Lexus have sold more than BMW. My source: Goodcarbadcar.net

GermanNut - 10/3/2016 5:29:08 PM

-6 Boost

The 3-Series continues its dramatic decline with the 4-Series and 5-Series joining it.

The SUVs, which should be helping BMW, aren't doing it any favors. The X4, X5 and X6 have all seen YTD sales declines and the aging X3 is what is keeping BMW's SUVs in positive territory YTD.

PUGPROUD - 10/3/2016 6:57:45 PM

+3 Boost

Reports are that next 5 series will be a dynamic marvel but look like more of the same...lighter, vastly improved steering, four wheel drive with four wheel steering available, etc etc. These poor sales numbers may finally be getting thru to them dynamically but design needs updating too...we will see.

cidflekken - 10/3/2016 7:32:53 PM

+2 Boost

Unfortunately, driving dynamics don't sell a car these days. Lexus and Cadillac can attest to that. BMW's minimal-evolution design approach might be finally catching up to them.

MDarringer - 10/3/2016 7:44:30 PM

+1 Boost

@cidflekken and the irony is that the Cadillacs are better at being BMWs than the BMWs and the BMWs are better at being soft, floaty Cadillacs than the Cadillacs.

MDarringer - 10/3/2016 7:43:16 PM

+3 Boost

New products with decade-old styling is causing problems.

GermanNut - 10/3/2016 10:27:43 PM

-6 Boost

It appears from spy photos that the new 5-Series will be to the current 5-Series what the new 7-Series is to the previous generation 7-Series. That should have BMW fans extremely worried because the new 7-Series sells in fewer number than the previous 7-Series. All the 7-Series brings is some new useless technology and an interior that is half a step above the previous generation but still miles behind the competition.

GermanNut - 10/4/2016 10:06:48 AM

+3 Boost

Yes, but even though the BMW brand has increased its global sales by 5.5% YTD, Mercedes-Benz has increased its own global sales by 11.7% - more than double BMW's growth rate. This means BMW has lost marketshare.

BMW finished 2015 as the global sales leader in the luxury segment and it also was the sales leader in the United States.

Where does BMW sit in 2016? 20,000 units behind Mercedes-Benz in the United States and 44,124 units behind Mercedes-Benz globally.

That is definitely not what BMW wanted!

Yonder7 - 10/4/2016 10:17:28 AM

+3 Boost

runbuh: Good catch but issue seems to be the USA market for them. China and India are the best place for them to save their company.

iamdabest1 - 10/4/2016 11:01:56 PM

+3 Boost

i love bmw , but they are losing their edge in many ways, not necessarily that they suck, but others have caught up and bmw isnt doing enough with their design language.
taking away free maintenance for 2017 models im sure isnt helping what was once a great sales pitch.