BMW Group India Sells 9,580 Cars In 9 Months, Retains No.2 Position

BMW Group India is on an unstoppable path, as the Indian arm of the German carmaker first posted its best-ever half-year followed by its best-ever January-September period. Securing a record-breaking sales figure of 8,998 units, the company marked a 10 per cent increase in sales and is now aiming to end the year on a high note. Moreover, the company recorded a five-fold increase in EV deliveries compared to the same period in 2022, selling more than 1,000 EVs in the country backed by the company's versatile electric lineup, including the BMW iX1, BMW i7, BMW iX, BMW i4, and MINI SE.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz India Sells 12,768 Cars In 9 Months; No.1 In Luxury Space

Speaking with Acko Drive, Vikram Pawah said, “We set record sales during the January- July 2023 period and continuing that momentum, we’ve done it again during the January-September period. Our Q3’ 2023 sales have been even more terrific, as our car business increased by 17 per cent. Not only that, we also had the best quarter sales and broke the record for the best monthly sales in our 16 years of history in India. Building on this trend, we are inching close to our target of recording the best yearly sales ever."

The month of September 2023, in particular, saw all-time high sales, largely driven by BMW SUVs, contributing over 50 per cent of year-to-date sales. The BMW iX emerged as the most sought-after luxury EV in India. Notably, the first-ever BMW iX1 was swiftly sold out for the entire year 2023. The BMW X1, a highly successful luxury SUV, introduced its electric variant, the iX1, alongside traditional petrol and diesel options. The introduction of the new BMW X5 in March further boosted SUV sales.

Also Read: Audi India's Sales Growth Story Continues; Still At No. 3

Speaking on the best-selling products for the company, Pawah said, “Our best-sellers this year have been the BMW X1, followed by the BMW 3 Gran Limousine and the BMW X7, so the interest of buyers is well spread out between the different segments.

The fact that an entry-level SUV has attracted a strong response from customers is surprising. Pawah said, "When we launched the new X1, we're getting almost 76 per cent of customers that are new to premium. That's great news because that means more people are adopting premium, given the product content. The second growth story for us is electric. That also brings in a lot of people who haven't been in premium, actually. And that surprised us."

BMW Group's commitment to providing a complimentary charger with every BMW and MINI BEV, along with a robust charging infrastructure available at their dealer network in 35 cities, has been pivotal to this success. As of now, more than 1,000 electric BMW and MINI vehicles are traversing the roads of India.

Simultaneously, the demand for BMW's luxury-class vehicles, including the BMW 7 Series, BMW i7, BMW X7, and BMW XM, surged by an impressive 102 per cent year-on-year. The BMW 7 Series, in the ultra-luxury segment, garnered significant attention, while the BMW X7 witnessed a nearly twofold increase in popularity among high-end Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) enthusiasts.

MINI, another brand under the BMW Group, achieved year-to-date sales with 582 units delivered, reflecting a 10 per cent increase. The locally produced MINI Countryman dominated with a 63 per cent market share, while the MINI Hatch accounted for 17 per cent. Additionally, the electric MINI 3-Door Cooper SE contributed 17 per cent to MINI's sales.

Compared to the other rivals in the luxury car segment, BMW India retained its No. 2 position, comfortably. While Audi India showed growth at 5,530 units, Mercedes-Benz India outperforms both Audi and BMW with 12,768 car deliveries. BMW India's performance, although impressive, is between its competitors, Mercedes-Benz India and Audi India.