The numbers will probably get less in coming months.
In 2019, the BMW Group reported its ninth consecutive record year with a total of 2,520,307 (+1.2%) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles delivered to customers worldwide.
It was also a good sales year for BMW Malaysia with an impressive 11,567 vehicle delivered to customers. However,BMW Malaysia will not be able to repeat this success in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sales of electrified BMW and MINI vehicles also increased. By the end of 2019, the BMW Group had already half a million electrified vehicles worldwide on the road and BMW made a bold claim that it was the world’s leading premium car company for the 16th consecutive year. They were on track for another sterling year in 2020 until COVID-19 showed it face.
PRESS RELEASE: Thanks to its major model offensive in recent months, the BMW Group initially made a good start to the year and was reporting sales growth. However, by February, the impact of the pandemic had already led to a significant decrease in sales in China. By March, the effects of the pandemic were clearly visible in sales figures in Europe and the US. Around 80% of all retail outlets in Europe and 70% of those in the US are currently closed due to the coronavirus. In a number of countries, including Germany, stationary retailers are legally prohibited from selling cars at the present time.
BMW Group supports measures to contain the pandemic
The BMW Group fully supports the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and is meeting its responsibility to society. The company is providing vehicles to social and healthcare facilities to ensure the mobility of health sector helpers and workers. At its German and international locations, the BMW Group is also helping social and public institutions with donations of goods and materials such as breathing masks and disinfectants. The company is currently working closely with its global supplier network to procure the necessary respiratory masks and other medical equipment at short notice. It is also reviewing the possibility of producing medical masks itself.
The BMW Group is providing its retail partners and customers with the best possible support in this difficult situation. Since the situation differs from one country to another, specific measures are being implemented for individual markets in close consultation with retail partners. Where currently appropriate, the BMW Group is also offering its customers measures such as the extension of warranties from new vehicle sales and the extension of maintenance intervals and continues to provide workshop services, as far as the legal requirements allow.
411,809 BMW vehicles delivered in first quarter
A total of 411,809 (-20.1%) BMW vehicles were delivered to customers in the first three months of the year. The MINI brand sold 64,449 (-23.4%) units during the same period.
In the first quarter 30,692 (+13.9%) electrified vehicles of the BMW and MINI brands were sold worldwide. “This means we are also on track to meet the EU’s CO2 targets. We do not see any necessity to defer climate protection goals”, said Pieter Nota.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reported sales of 853 (-27.2%) vehicles in the first quarter of the current year. A total of 34,774 (-9.9%) motorcycles were also delivered to customers between January and March.
In the US, a total of 64,692 (-17.4%) vehicles were sold in the first quarter of the year; of these, 59,455 (-15.3%) were BMW brand vehicles.
In China, first-quarter sales were down 30.9% (116,452 vehicles). In a welcome development, this trend was reversed in March, pointing to a sustainable recovery in this market. Sales figures in South Korea also trended in a positive direction.
In the region of Europe, a total of 220,812 (-18.3%) BMW and MINI vehicles were delivered to customers in the first three months of the year. In Germany, BMW Group sold 67,882 units (-9.0%); this was a smaller decrease than for the market as a whole.
BMW Group sales YTD March 2020 at a glance
| 1st Quarter 2020 | Compared with previous year % | |
| BMW Group Automotive 1 | 477,111 | -20.6 |
| BMW 1 | 411,809 | -20.1 |
| MINI 1 | 64,449 | -23.4 |
| BMW Group electrified* 1 | 30,692 | +13.9 |
| Rolls-Royce 1 | 853 | -27.2 |
| BMW Motorrad | 34,774 | -9.9 |
*BMW i, BMW iPerformance, MINI Electric
BMW & MINI sales in the regions/markets
| 1st Quarter 2020 | Compared with previous year % | |
| Europe 1 | 220,812 | -18.3 |
| Germany* 1 | 67,882 | -9.0 |
| Asia 1 | 162,604 | -25.0 |
| China 1 | 116,452 | -30.9 |
| Americas 1 | 81,791 | -17.6 |
| USA 1 | 64,692 | -17.4 |
*Provisional registration figures
