The BMW Group reported a modest 1.4% decline in global vehicle sales for the first quarter of 2025, delivering 586,149 vehicles worldwide, compared to 594,671 units in Q1 2024. The drop was largely attributed to continued weakness in the Chinese market, which saw a sharp year-on-year contraction of 17.2%.
Despite the overall decline, the company recorded strong growth in its electrified vehicle lineup, especially fully electric models (BEVs), as the group continues to push forward with its e-mobility strategy. The company delivered 109,516 BEVs globally, a jump of 32.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Electrified vehicles — including plug-in hybrids — totaled 157,495 units, marking a 28.5% increase YoY.
Regional Performance Breakdown
-
Europe: BMW Group saw a 6.2% increase in sales to 241,867 units. BEV adoption was particularly strong in the region, with electric vehicle deliveries soaring 64.2%.
-
United States: Sales in the U.S. rose 4.1% YoY to 94,591 units, contributing positively to overall momentum.
-
Americas (overall): Grew 5.4% to 114,313 units.
-
Germany: Domestic sales dropped slightly by 1.3% to 61,264 units.
-
Asia: The region posted a 12.2% drop in deliveries, totaling 214,203 units.
-
China: The steepest decline was seen here, with sales falling 17.2% YoY to 155,195 units, weighing down overall global performance.
Brand-wise Performance
-
BMW: The core brand sold 520,142 vehicles, down 2% from last year. However, the brand posted dynamic growth in BEVs, delivering 86,449 units (+9.9% YoY).
-
BMW M GmbH: Continued its strong performance, growing 5% YoY with 50,494 vehicles sold, driven by demand for high-performance M5 and M3 models.
-
MINI: Sold 64,626 units in Q1, up 4.1% YoY. BEVs accounted for 35.3% of MINI’s total sales in the quarter.
-
Rolls-Royce: Delivered 1,381 units, reflecting a 9.4% decline.
-
BMW Motorrad: Motorcycle and scooter sales dropped 3.9% to 44,609 units.
Outlook and Strategy
Jochen Goller, BMW AG Board Member responsible for Customer, Brands, and Sales, said the company’s “technology-open strategy” — offering internal combustion, hybrid, and fully electric models — is paying off. He noted strong demand for the new MINI BEVs, especially in China, where over half of MINI vehicles sold were electric.
The BMW Group is on track to hit two major electrification milestones in 2025:
-
Reaching a cumulative total of 3 million electrified vehicles (BEVs + PHEVs) sold globally.
-
Delivering 1.5 million fully electric vehicles to customers since launching the BMW i3 and i8.
Stock Reaction
Following the release of Q1 results, BMW’s stock surged 5.66% to trade at €67.115, reflecting investor optimism around the group’s electrification progress and its performance in key markets outside China.
