The BMW Group has reported a significant increase in the delivery of fully electric vehicles (BEVs) during the second quarter, with a total of 88,289 units sold under the BMW and Mini brands. This remarkable figure signifies a remarkable achievement, as the company has more than doubled its BEV sales compared to the same period last year, representing a growth of 117.5 percent. However, while one brand thrives, another appears to be falling behind.
In a recent statement by the BMW Group, it was revealed that the BMW brand accounted for 77,948 of the total BEVs delivered from April to June, showing an outstanding growth rate of 150.7 percent compared to Q2 of 2022. In contrast, Mini lagged behind with only 10,341 BEV sales, indicating a modest increase of 8.8 percent. Nevertheless, Mini has plans to bounce back by transitioning to a new generation of electric vehicles, which will be produced in collaboration with Great Wall in China.
Overall, the BMW Group delivered a total of 626,726 vehicles, encompassing the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce brands, in the second quarter, representing an 11.5 percent growth. Notably, Rolls-Royce is set to launch its all-electric Spectre model soon, although it remains uncertain whether the company will report the deliveries of this luxury electric coupe separately. Nonetheless, the demand for the Spectre has surpassed expectations, with the order backlog extending until the end of next year. The initial deliveries of the Rolls-Royce Spectre are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Breaking down the numbers further, the BMW brand sold a total of 553,369 vehicles in Q2, a growth rate of 11.5 percent across all drive types. BEVs accounted for 14.1 percent of the brand’s total sales, with 77,948 units delivered. Mini sold 71,816 vehicles during the same period, resulting in a BEV share of 14.4 percent. BMW highlights the popularity of the electric Mini Cooper SE, which has been the brand’s best-selling model since last year.
Specific details and exact figures for the most popular models within the BMW brand were not provided. However, the BMW Group mentions that the new 7 Series models, including the fully-electric BMW i7 and the new BMW X7, along with the BMW 4 Series and the fully-electric BMW i4, have enjoyed significant popularity.
While plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are not explicitly mentioned in the memo, a table included in the report reveals that the BMW Group sold a total of 134,982 “BMW Group electrified” units. Subtracting the known BEV sales leaves a total of 46,693 plug-in hybrids sold between BMW and Mini. This indicates a decline in PHEV sales compared to Q2 of 2022 when 54,282 units were delivered.
Examining the first half of the year, the BMW Group achieved a substantial increase in BEV deliveries. In this period, 152,936 BEVs were sold, compared to 75,891 in the same period the previous year. Notably, the majority of the 184,553 “electrified” BMW and Mini vehicles sold in 2022 consisted of PHEVs. However, the trend has reversed in 2023, with 152,936 BEVs sold compared to 92,532 PHEVs in the first half of the year. Consequently, the growth rate for BEVs stands at 101.5 percent, while electrified cars only experienced a 33.1 percent increase due to the decline in PHEV sales.
Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, and Sales, expressed his satisfaction with the sales performance, stating, “Strong sales development in general and especially for our fully-electric vehicles shows that we have the right products on the market at the right time.” He further affirmed that the BMW Group will continue to accelerate its electrification efforts in the second half of the year. Nota also emphasized the company’s ability to cater to diverse customer needs globally, thanks to its wide range of offerings, including highly efficient combustion engines and fully electric models. Additionally, he announced the upcoming launch of the i5 electric vehicle in October, which will complete the BMW Group’s portfolio, providing a fully electric option in each of its core segments.
