BMW’s global deliveries declined in the third quarter, but U.S. sales increased as the German automaker widened its lead in the luxury segment.
The details: The overall sales decline was driven by weakness in China, where deliveries fell 24.8% in Q3, while sales in the U.S. and Europe were supported by models including the iX3, 3 Series, and X5.
U.S. sales rose 2.5% year over year in Q3 to 106,741 vehicles, with year-to-date deliveries up 3.4% to 307,402 units.
Deliveries in Europe, excluding Germany, increased 2.7% in the third quarter to 235,628 vehicles and were up 4.5% year-to-date.
What they’re saying: “In difficult market conditions, we were able to hold our own in Europe and the US. The continued strength in new orders for our fully electric vehicles, in particular, confirms our course,” said Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for customer, brands, sales, per a press statement. “The product momentum generated by our Neue Klasse models and Neue Klasse technologies strengthens our position for the challenges ahead.”
Why it matters: BMW’s continued U.S. sales growth could give dealers an advantage in attracting luxury buyers, with strong demand for key models helping sustain showroom traffic and sales momentum.
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Between the lines: BMW’s third-quarter U.S. sales growth widened its lead over chief competitors Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in the luxury segment, even as the market grapples with affordability challenges.
BMW was the only one of the three luxury brands to surpass 100,000 U.S. sales in Q3, as noted by Autoblog, amid intense competition for luxury buyers.
Mercedes-Benz delivered 76,200 vehicles in the U.S. during the third quarter, up 4%, while Lexus reported sales of 93,056 units, a 1.6% increase.
Bottom line: BMW’s ability to grow U.S. sales despite declining global deliveries underscores the strength of its position in the American luxury market, giving dealers a competitive edge as the automaker looks to sustain momentum amid economic pressures and intensifying competition.
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