BMW of North America has set so many monthly BMW sales records lately that when it doesn’t break a monthly record, that’s news. So the news is that in November 2014, sales of BMWs dipped about 2.3 percent.
Dealers delivered 31,019 BMW-branded vehicles in November 2014, compared to 31,752 during the same month last year. There is good news, however. Year-to-date sales of BMWs in 2014 are still 9.7 percent ahead of 2013 deliveries—298,212 units through the end of November compared to 271,891 deliveries in the same period in 2013.
Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, commented on November sales saying, “The traffic in our showrooms was very strong in November, especially over the Thanksgiving weekend, and I expect that momentum to continue in December and carry us to an all-time sales record at the end of 2014. I am especially pleased to see Mini moving forward as availability of the new models improves. On the BMW side, the new X6 joins the U.S. model lineup this month adding even more breadth to what I regard as the best BMW model range ever.”
In mentioning Mini, CEO Willisch pointed out the bright spot in November’s sales. After some disappointing figures earlier in the year, Mini USA sold 5,009 cars in November 2014, compared to 4,575 delivered in November last year. That’s a pretty decent 9.5-percent jump. Year-to-date Mini sales in 2014 are still off 17.4 percent over 2013, but perhaps November’s bump is signaling a turnaround.
Another division that showed strength in November was BMW Motorrad. The 833 motorcycles that went out the door represented a 1.5-percent increase over November 2013. BMW motorcycle sales year to date are running 4.9 percent over 2013 and are expected to set an all-time BMW U.S. sales record this year.
November sales figures for luxury cars show that the battle for the U.S. sales crown is heating up going into the last month of the year. Mercedes-Benz delivered 34,578 units in November, bringing its 2014 year-to-date total to 296,382, which is only 1,830 behind BMW.
The Mercedes-Benz sales figures do not include Mercedes cargo vans or Smart cars, just as BMW totals do not include Minis, since none of those qualify as luxury cars.
Will BMW rebound in December? Will Mercedes-Benz make a last-corner pass of BMW to take the U.S. luxury crown for the second year in a row? Will BMW hold its lead to re-take the sales championship? Tune in next month for the final figures.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of BMW AG.]
