eBusiness Weekly
The BMW M division hit record sales in 2023, with more than 200 000 units registered around the world.
In 2023, the BMW M division registered as many as 202 530 units across its performance portfolio globally. This represented a significant 14,3 percent increase over 2022’s effort and was the first time BMW M GmbH had breached the 200 000-unit mark. So, which model was the division’s strongest seller?
Well, the German group has announced that the BMW i4 M50 was again the best-selling M automobile (remember, the division is responsible for both the M Performance and full-fat M line-ups) in 2023.
Unfortunately, as was the case in the previous year, the company opted not to release an exact sales figure for the i40 M50.
Having earlier arrived as the brand’s first all-electric performance model, the i4 M50 continued its successful course in its second full year of sales, once again taking the crown as BMW M GmbH’s top seller.
Last year also saw the global reveals of likewise battery-powered performance models such as the i5 M60 xDrive (due in South Africa shortly) and the i7 M70 xDrive (not currently available in Mzansi).
“The financial year 2023 was characterised both by our highly successful portfolio of highly emotional combustion engine vehicles and by our ongoing electrification offensive with two further all-electric performance models and our first electrified high-performance car, the BMW XM,” said Franciscus van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH.
“Not least the ongoing success of the BMW i4 M50 confirms that we are on the right track to further advance the electrification of our product portfolio and to combine sustainable drive technologies with an emotionally powerful driving experience.”
In addition, BMW M said the new M2 Coupé, M3 CS and XM made “decisive” contributions to the division’s record sales. According to the company, the M3 (now including the SA-bound M3 Touring) was the “world’s best-selling high-performance sports car” in 2023, “followed by the BMW M4 Coupé”.
The United States of America was once again the largest single market for BMW M GmbH automobiles last year, followed by Germany and then the United Kingdom.
In 2024, the M division says it plans further “diversification of the product portfolio”.
In addition to upcoming model revisions for the M3, M4 and M2, the new-generation M5 is “in the starting blocks” and set to be available as both a sedan and a wagon (though BMW SA says the M5 Touring is “not for South Africa”). We can also expect a new M4 CS to debut this year. — IOL Motoring
