Holding The Line: BMW Sales Increase 0.2% In October

Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 0.2 percent in October 2018 for a total of 23,262, compared to 23,208 vehicles sold in October 2017. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 2.0 percent on sales of 248,327 vehicles compared to 243,383 sold in the first ten months of 2017.

“There’s no question the U.S. is becoming a tougher sales market, so for BMW to mark 12 straight months of sales gains in the U.S. is a solid accomplishment,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “With only two months remaining in the year, November is important for BMW as the all-new and much anticipated X5 will go on sale, joining the very popular X3 in the marketplace.”

BMW’s lineup of Sports Activity Vehicles accounted for 47 percent of BMW brand sales in October 2018. For the eighth consecutive month, the BMW X3 was the top-selling BMW model in the U.S.
 

BMW Group Electrified Vehicle Sales

BMW brand sales of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles totaled 1,836 in October 2018, a decrease of 8.5 percent from the 2,006 sold in the same month a year ago. In total, BMW Group (BMW and MINI) electrified vehicles accounted for 7.4 percent of U.S. sales in October 2018.

BMW Group currently offers seven electrified models in the U.S., including the BMW i3, BMW i8, BMW 330e, BMW 530e, BMW 740e, BMW X5 xDrive 40e and MINI Countryman plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle.

MINI Brand Sales

For October, MINI USA reported 3,166 vehicles sold, a decrease of 13.7 percent from the 3,669 sold in the same month a year ago. MINI sales in October were led by the MINI Countryman, with 1,070 units. Year-to-date sales of the MINI Countryman have increased 29.1 percent compared to the first 10 months of 2017. Year to date, MINI brand sales are down 2.9 percent.

BMW Group Sales

Sales of BMW Group vehicles (BMW and MINI brands combined) in the U.S. decreased 1.7 percent in October 2018 for a total of 26,428 vehicles, compared with 26,877 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW Group sales in the U.S. are up 1.4 percent from the first ten months of 2017.

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles

• BMW Certified Pre-Owned sold 9,072 vehicles, a decrease of 8.9 percent from October 2017.
• Total BMW Pre-Owned sold 18,628 vehicles, an increase of 2.5 percent from October 2017. 

MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles

• MINI Certified Pre-Owned sold 983 vehicles in October, an increase of 30 percent from October 2017.
• Total MINI Pre-Owned sold 2,304 vehicles in October, an increase of 6.5 percent from October 2017

 

cidflekken - 11/1/2018 7:24:13 PM

+6 Boost

Is Audi looking for 50 units to show an increase, the reason their sales numbers haven’t published yet?

Car4life1 - 11/1/2018 7:39:25 PM

+5 Boost

Yea But they needed to give Hertz and Enterprise a receipt for those transactions first...

cidflekken - 11/1/2018 8:11:10 PM

+4 Boost

Actually just read that they posted a 17% decrease breaking their 9 yesterday streak

Car4life1 - 11/1/2018 10:02:44 PM

+4 Boost

Audi has the potential to be so much greater than they are, quality products and innovative technology but if Mercrdes has taught the luxury industry one thing, it’s that risk and design matters. A few years ago Mercedes was the last to get to China and the global race was pretty much between BMW and Audi.

Within 2-3 years, Mercedes leapfrogged both, taking risk in the design department between generations and most importantly listening to their buyers.

I understand Audj is conservative but their is a thin line between conservative and dull especially when it comes to their sedans

MDarringer - 11/1/2018 10:47:44 PM

0 Boost

Audi is a German Oldsmobile. BMW is rapidly becoming a German Lexus. That leaves Mercedes as the victor.

bw5011 - 11/2/2018 9:07:34 AM

+1 Boost

@car4life1 as someone that have given Audi several hundred grand, I think they are doing enough to keep me interested. What I don't get is Mercedes and BMW do the exact same thing but people are blind to them. The S class is a stretched C class, just like the 7 and 3 series. Some people are buying Mercedes and BMW off their name alone just like some people think Audi's are not good cars because of reality issues from over 10 years ago that don't exist in none of the Audi's I have purchased over the years.

cidflekken - 11/2/2018 1:56:59 PM

+2 Boost

Bw5011 maybe I am misreading your post but the point isn't design continuity throughout the model ranges. It’s design in itself.

scenicbyway12 - 11/2/2018 4:28:11 PM

+3 Boost

"Is Audi looking for 50 units to show an increase, the reason their sales numbers haven’t published yet?"

That's why it took a extra day to get the numbers out.

Car4life1 - 11/2/2018 9:28:15 PM

+4 Boost

@Bw5011, I’ll put it simply for you, I don’t have to be 5 feet away from a Mercedes to tell it apart from its predecessor or previous generation...

People are falling asleep on Audi’s design because everything looks so similar to a decade ago.

It’s not about having a similar look to the rest of your lineup showing family resemblance. It’s about not looking like your predecessor did 2 generations ago

GermanNut - 11/1/2018 9:40:03 PM

-3 Boost

I had a feeling October would be the month the sales streak ends for Audi. Audi has been barely positive for several months in the U.S. and was down huge globally. I don't see this as a larger problem for Audi though. The sales numbers should once again turn positive in the next few months both for the U.S. and globally.

snowboard7 - 11/1/2018 10:58:02 PM

-2 Boost

Dont forget guys the new Q8 just arrived to show room and the new A8 as well. Then the next generation A7 and A6 arrive next month so it will help alot. The new tech inside these cars are amazing. Give Audi a chance lol.

carsnyc - 11/2/2018 8:29:07 AM

+3 Boost

The Q8 will sell but the A8 is DOA as it can't even compete against the LS or the 7. The A7 and A6 are nicer Audi products but people don't want those cars. Look at what's happening to the almighty E Class.

GermanNut - 11/2/2018 10:06:31 AM

-3 Boost

This was an inventory shortage issue. The new A6, A7, A8 and Q3 haven't arrived in large numbers and buyers don't want the old versions. Once the new models replenish the inventory, Audi's sales should rise.

Mercedes-Benz faced a similar problem in the U.S.

scenicbyway12 - 11/2/2018 4:27:09 PM

+2 Boost

Audi has mundane styling, fast becoming a one car (Q5) company.

2ndbimmer - 11/2/2018 7:52:27 PM

+3 Boost

The mooches will take a cheap lease on a previous model or last year model. That is always an excuse car brands give about stagnant sales.
That is what I do with my leases. It is how the game is played. Save $200 per month on a vehicle they had 6 years to perfect? Why not!? I don't need the newest model.

MDarringer - 11/2/2018 8:22:53 PM

-1 Boost

Unfortunately with you scenario, that price advantage is NOT always there. MANY times, the new model will be highly incentivized over the previous model and for obvious reasons.