As the first three months of the year now come to an end, carmakers are releasing relevant data on sales performance from January to March. We’ve already learned that demand for the BMW Core brand has dropped by 7.3%, but that’s not all bad. For example, the M Division grew 3.1% while the Motorod made a significant jump in 11.3% deliveries.
For better news, the popularity of electric vehicles increased significantly in the first quarter of 2022. During this time, BMW and MINI combined delivered 35,289 EVs. This represents a huge increase of 149.2%, driven by the success of i4, iX and Cooper SE. By the end of the year, the group expects sales of zero-emissions to more than double compared to 2021.
The i3 hatchback is leaving this year, with production set to end in July. However, the i3 sedan has just been unveiled and will be made and sold exclusively in China. It is based on the Long-Wheelbase 3 Series and is designed for the mid-cycle facelift BMW Global 3er. Much like the iX3 made in China, it comes exclusively in rear-wheel-drive form.
By the end of 2022, BMW Group will be producing 15 EVs, including pre-series cars. In addition to the i3 sedan, the 7 Series G70, which debuted on April 20, will receive an i7 replica. The next MINI Cooper SE will be made in China while the electric countryman is about to assemble in Leipzig. At the same plant in Germany, BMW will make the mechanically related iX1
We also know that the i5 is set to go on sale in 2023 and will enter pre-production before the end of this year. Collectively, BMW states that its electric offerings will cover about 90% of the areas where the automaker is active. The arrival of Neue Klasse architecture in 2025 will accelerate the group’s electric shock. In 2030, Rolls-Royce will only go to EV when MINI will do the same at the beginning of the next decade.
Source: BMW