BMW of North America's sales of BMW luxury cars was up 3.2% in November over the same month a year ago. U.S. deliveries totaled 32,003 for the month, bringing the year-to-date BMW sales to 311,398, almost 5% higher than the number of cars sold in the first eleven months of 2014.
"There were fewer selling days in November, yet the demand for new vehicles is solid, resulting in the ninth record sales month for BMW this year," said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW of North America. “The all-new 7 Series did very well in its first full month of sales but there’s no question the trend is towards light trucks, and the improving availability of our SAV’s gave a nice boost to our overall sales in November.”
Willisch is understandably happy about SAV sales. The BMW X3 realized an amazing 124.5 percent increase in sales over a year ago, with 4,987 of them going out the door in November. BMW X6 sales were up 59.6 percent. Also showing a hefty improvement was the BMW 2 Series, with a 77.6 percent increase.
While BMW was steadily increasing sales in November, its two rivals for the U.S. luxury sales crown, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, both faltered. Mercedes-Bens deliveries were down 13 percent in November to 30,043 units, while Lexus—even though it had a record November—only sold 29,340 vehicles, allowing BMW to extend its lead over both.
With a month to go in the luxury sales race, BMW leads Mercedes-Benz by 2,513. A month ago the lead was 533. Lexus had been trailing BMW by 5,514 units. That gap is now 8,177.
It appears that the U.S. sales championship is BMW’s to win or lose. It’s unlikely either of its closest competitors will be able to catch it—barring a holiday miracle.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
