BMW of North America reported that new car sales in the U.S. were down 4.6 percent from September of 2015. A total of 25,389 went out the door compared to 26,608 last year. That brings the total sale of BMW-branded vehicles in 2016 to 230,133, which is down 7.9 percent from 2015’s 249,956 January-through-September deliveries.
The bright spots in September new car sales continued to be the BMW 7 Series and the X family of vehicles. Over 1,200 of the brand’s luxury flagship 7 Series Sedan were sold. BMW X1 sales jumped to 2,463 while customers took delivery of 3,829 new BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicles.
“Once again, our Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs) are leading the way, accounting for 44% of BMW September sales, the second month in a row for such a percentage,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “At the same time, I am also pleased to see demand for our flagship 7 Series continuing to increase with solid numbers over a year ago.”
Mini sales were also off, with 4,024 of the premium compacts sold, down about 180 from a year ago. Mini USA reported year-to-date sales of 38,911 Mini cars versus 44,974 at the same point in 2015.
Just because new BMW and Mini sales were off doesn’t mean that people didn’t want BMWs and Minis. In what may be a reflection of the country’s economic outlook, a record number of buyers bought pre-owned vehicles from BMW and Mini dealers.
The sale of BMW Certified Pre-Owned vehicles in September set a record with 11,178 units, a massive 28.5 percent jump from September 2015. Total sales of BMW Pre-Owned vehicles also set a record. The 22,809 vehicles sold from dealerships is an incredible 61.6 percent leap over the same month last year
So far in 2016, a total of 168,735 BMW Pre-Owned vehicles were sold, which is a 22 percent increase over the same period in 2015.
Mini had a similar experience. The 925 Certified Pre-Owned Minis sold in September represents a 2.3 percent increase, while the total sales of 2,234 Pre-Owned Minis is a 4.4 percent increase from September 2015. To date this year, Mini Pre-Owned sales are up 4.7 percent over the same period a year ago.
Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, the two brands leading BMW in the U.S. luxury sales race, both reported slight increases in September. Mercedes-Benz sales were up 1.7 percent from last September while Lexus saw a 2 percent increase from a year ago. It would take a sales miracle now for BMW to three-peat as the U.S. premium sales champ.
The vast majority of automobile companies selling vehicles in the U.S experienced sales downturns in September and 2016 has not been a great year for many. BMW traditionally has weathered such trials better than most companies. With the 7 Series doing well, the new 5 Series imminent, the first X2 coming soon, the next-generation X3 on the horizon, the next 3 Series family scheduled for 2018, and the first X7 about a year away, BMW may be well-positioned for a new-car sales recovery; at least we hope so.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
