May was another month of growth for the BMW brand in North America, with 27,109 deliveries amounting to a 1.7% year-over-year increase from 26,662. For the year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 0.7%, with unit sales of 124,813 compared with 123,979. Thanks to flagging MINI sales, however, total BMW North America sales were down 3.1% during May, thanks to 29,931 deliveries falling short of the 30,888 that occurred a year ago. For the first five months of 2019, BMW NA sales are down 2.3%, from 142,469 to 139,161.
BMW passenger car models, a term which predominantly encompasses sedans and coupes, but also the X1 and X2, has continued its downward trend, with May sales of 13,566 coming in 20.5% shy of the 17,074 deliveries last year. For January through May, conventional passenger car sales are down 15.1%, from 79,647 to 67,613. On the other hand, demand for BMW X models seems to be benefitting. Sales of models including everything from the X3 to the X7 were up 41.2% year-over-year, from 9,588, to 13,543, while the year-to-date basis also looks good, with an increase of 29% from 44,332 to 57,200 having occurred. BMW X models, from the X1 to the X7, have accounted for 56% of BMW sales during 2019.
As far as conventional BMW models are concerned, the 3 Series was by the far the most popular during May. Unit sales of 4,364 translate to a year-to-date increase of 27.3% over the 3,428 delivered twelve months ago, as the seventh generation of BMW’s mainstay becomes fully available in all configurations. Behind the 3 Series was the 5 Series, with 3,242 unit sales in May. The X3 continues to be the real volume seller of the brand though, with an incredible 6,186 deliveries amounting to growth of 30.6% over the 4,737 last May. The X4, which sells in fractional numbers compared to the X3, also logged a healthy percentage gain, with an increase of 540.6% originating from 679 unit sales compared to 106 a year ago.
Sales of BMW Group Electrified models continued to draw down during May, with a decline of 29.7% posted. As we’ve previously pointed out, the BMW EV lineup is as limited as it has been in some time, thanks to substantial mode changeover. The transition to new generations for key models, such as the 3 Series, X5, and 7 Series, is yet to be complete, with variants that have electrified drivetrains on the horizon. A plug-in hybrid type of the ever-popular X3 is also promised to be on the way.
MINI sales logged another month of reduced performance. The May 2019 delivery figure of 2,822 represents a 33.2% decrease from the 4,226 vehicles delivered last year, and year-to-date, MINI is down 22.4%, with sales contracting from 18,490 to 14,348. MINI pre-owned sales totaled 2,807 during May, a decrease of 6.7% compared with 2018, while MINI certified pre-owned (CPO) sales amounted to 1,201, a 13% decline.
In May, BMW pre-owned sales decreased 6.6% to 21,621, while BMW CPO deliveries were also down 15.1%, to 10,306.—Alex Tock
[Photos courtesy BMW AG.]