BMWNA had a descent month in June. While year-on-year sales growth was a modest 0.4%, overall US light vehicle sales were down about 3% (Porsche and Maserati have yet to report, as of the time of this writing). And even though sedan sales continue to suffer across the board here in the US, 4-series and 5-series both showed excellent numbers compared to June of last year, growing 41.1% and 42.9% respectively.

The X1 and X5 both showed solid gains as well, resulting in total X-series growth of 15.7%. When the new X3 starts selling later this year, these numbers should improve even more. Yes, it’s taken about 6 months longer than BMW NA management had hoped, but increased SAV availability has lead to an improved product mix that is better aligned with the current US buyer’s appetite for vehicles with “command seating” like CUVs, SUVs and trucks.

Sales of 2-series and 7-series are both down. The 7-series deliveries have to be particularly disappointing, especially considering Mercedes-Benz managed to move 1,169 S-class variants compared to just 634 7-series. But fears of falling into third in the luxury car competition have faded considerably. BMW has outsold Lexus by over 25,000 units in the first half of 2017. This time last year the Roundel was a scant 2,000 units ahead.

BMW was in the middle of the pack in Matt’s Luxury Index. Jaguar’s stellar performance derived from the F-Type and the F-Pace seems to have cooled, and Volvo’s surge has as well. But both had performed well for many a month, and nothing can last forever. On a side note, Alfa Romeo sold over 1,000 units due to the introduction of the Giulia 5-series competitor. With the Stevlio soon to be available, Alfa may finally emerge from the statistically insignificant to a real car company here in the US, potentially moving Jaguar-sized inventory.

Official News: Woodcliff Lake, NJ – January 4, 2017… Sales of BMW brand vehicles in December totaled 32,835 compared to 34,625 vehicles sold in December 2016. For the year, BMW brand is down 9.5 percent on sales of 313,174 compared to 346,023 from last year.

Notable vehicle sales for 2016 include the BMW 7 Series which increased 39 percent to 12,918. The BMW X1 which set a new sales record this year with 27,812, a 92.9 percent increase compared to 2015. BMW X3 sales also set a new record with 44,196, an increase of 38.4 percent compared to 2015.

“December set a new record for our Sports Activity Vehicle sales in the U.S., exceeding 50 percent for the first time ever and firmly anchoring 2016 as the growth year for SAV’s in the Premium Segment,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “The New Year brings optimism for the year ahead and now we’re looking forward to the Detroit Auto Show next week and the launch of our brilliant, all-new 5 Series.”

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles

  • Sales of BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales set a record with 13,098 vehicles a 17.2 percent increase over December 2015. For the year, BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales also set a record with 129,207, an 11.5 percent increase compared to 115,903 in 2015.
  • Total BMW Pre-Owned sales were 24,402 in December 2016, a 26.2 percent increase over December 2015.
  • The Total BMW Pre-Owned sales in 2016 were 234,943 a 25.5 percent increase over 2015 and setting another record.