BMW India has announced that it has sold 9,580 cars and 6,778 motorcycles in the first nine months of 2023, marking its best-ever performance in the country. The car sales include 8,998 units of BMW and 582 units of MINI, registering a 10% growth over the same period last year. The motorcycle sales, which comprise BMW Motorrad models, have increased by 26% year-on-year.
One of the key drivers of BMW’s success in India is its leadership in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) segment. The company has delivered 1,000 EVs in the first 18 months of launching its EV portfolio in India, which consists of five models: BMW iX1, BMW iX3, BMW i4, BMW i8 and MINI Cooper SE. These EVs account for about 10% of the total car sales of BMW India.
BMW expands its charging infrastructure and product range
To support its growing EV customer base, BMW is working with various partners to install more charging stations across its dealerships and on popular routes. Vikram Pawah, President of BMW Group India, said that this will enable the buyers to use their EVs for inter-city travel as well as within and around the city.
BMW is also planning to launch more models in India, both in the EV and ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) segments. Pawah said that the company had announced to introduce 25 models across the BMW, MINI and Motorrad brands in India, out of which 21 have been launched so far. The latest addition is the BMW 7 Series with a diesel engine, the 740d M Sport. The remaining models will be mostly product extensions and not entirely new models, he added.
BMW iX1 sold out in 180 minutes
One of the most remarkable achievements of BMW India was the online sale of its flagship EV model, the BMW iX1, which was sold out in just 180 minutes. Pawah said that this was a case of ‘Gone in 180 minutes’ but assured that more allocation will be available soon for new buyers. He also pointed out that the on-road price of BMW EVs is the same as their ICE counterparts, which makes it easier for the buyers to make a decision.
The BMW iX1 is a fully electric SUV that offers a range of up to 460 km on a single charge. It has a power output of 300 kW (408 hp) and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. It also comes with advanced features such as adaptive air suspension, panoramic glass roof, head-up display and wireless charging.
