BMW Group Australia has marked a significant surge in sales for the first nine months of 2023, notably driven by the remarkable performance of its battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
By the end of September, registrations of BMW’s battery electric vehicles reached 1869, nearly doubling the figures from the same period last year (938).
The renowned German automaker has also surpassed its arch-rival Mercedes-Benz in the Australian market year-to-date, securing the 14th position in overall sales charts with 19,040 deliveries, compared to Mercedes-Benz’s 18,490 units in 15th place.
This shift was particularly evident in September, with BMW selling 2354 vehicles against Mercedes-Benz’s 1702 cars. This marks the first time in a decade that the two premium German brands have swapped positions on the podium.
BMW attributes much of its success to the popularity of its iX model, which saw registrations increase by 115 percent (661 units versus 308). Additionally, the iX3 has continued to perform strongly, experiencing a 38 percent increase in sales compared to the same period last year (597 units versus 433).
The recent introduction of the iX1 has also captured the interest of Australian buyers, with 391 units sold since its market debut earlier this year. The iX1 range will soon expand to include the iX1 eDrive20, priced from $78,900 plus on-road costs, further bolstering BMW’s electric vehicle lineup.
Looking ahead, BMW Group Australia aims to offer four fully electric variants priced below $89,332 by Q1 next year, making them exempt from both Luxury Car Tax (LCT) for fuel-efficient vehicles and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for fleet operators. These models will include the iX1 eDrive20, iX1 eDrive30, i4 eDrive35, and iX3 M Sport.
The robust growth in BEV sales has significantly contributed to BMW’s overall performance, with total registrations up by 4.7 percent. Notable highlights include double-digit increases for the 1 Series and 2 Series, as well as a seven percent uplift for the enduringly popular 3 Series.
Furthermore, the flagship 7 Series limousine saw a notable 40 percent increase in sales, while the 8 Series sportscar range experienced a 23 percent surge.
BMW’s Mini sub-brand has also achieved impressive year-to-date sales growth, with 3306 vehicles registered by the end of September, representing a more than 26 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
“These results reflect the growth across every Mini model line,” remarked BMW Group Australia.
