Another month and another record for BMW of North America: BMW sales in the U.S. increased 2% in August for a total of 27,755 units delivered. That makes 223,348 vehicles sold so far in 2015—which is enough to keep BMW's lead in the U.S. luxury sales market.
"Even without Labor Day weekend as part of the month, the solid August results for both BMW and Mini continue to prove the strength of consumer demand and underscore the momentum BMW Group has shown throughout this year," said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. "With the launch of the all-new BMW 7 Series getting underway and the new BMW X1 also on the horizon, I'm expecting a strong finish in the remaining four months of 2015."
Fast movers in August BMW sales included the BMW 2 Series with a jump of 55.9 percent to 1,025 vehicles moved, the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle that experienced a 5.1 percent increase to 2,127 units, and the X3’s stable mate BMW X4, which saw a 31.3 percent bump to 453 of the Sports Activity Coupes sold.
Mini, although not counted in the luxury car race, showed consistent improvement. August Mini sales were up 2.1 percent with 5,109 automobiles delivered. So far in 2015, Mini has moved 40,560 cars, up 16 percent over last year at this time.
Meanwhile, the players in the premium market segment behind BMW are mixing it up. With 28,373 units moved, Mercedes-Benz did not sell as many vehicles in August as BMW did, so it not only fell farther behind the Bavarians, but it fell out of second place as well with a year-to-date total of 220,870 vehicles.
The crown for August went to Lexus, which sold 33,487 vehicles, including 4,448 new—and lower cost—NX sport utility vehicles. That brought Lexus’ 2015 total to 222,151, good for second place in the U.S. premium sales race and only 1,197 behind BMW. Lexus held the title for eleven years straight until BMW snatched it away in 2011. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been swapping it back and forth since then, but Lexus seems determined to take it back for 2015. With four months left in the year, it’s BMW’s title to win or lose, but don’t count out Lexus or Daimler yet.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
