Munich. At the end of its anniversary year, BMW M GmbH has once again achieved record results. Global sales of performance and high-performance cars rose to 177,257 vehicles during the 2022 financial year. This represents an increase of 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year, despite the continuing challenging conditions in the area of logistics and supply chains. The most important single market in 2022 was again the USA, with the second most important sales region again being the German domestic market, followed by the UK.

“The enthusiasm of the M community for emotionally powerful performance on the road and on the racetrack has carried us through the entire anniversary year,” says Franciscus van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH. “This is also expressed in a new sales record for BMW M automobiles, which gives us a positive outlook for 2023.”

BMW i4 M50: the best-selling BMW M automobile drives locally emission-free.
At the same time, 2022 marks BMW M GmbH's successful start into the age of electric mobility. “The best-selling BMW M automobile of 2022 is the all-electric BMW i4 M50,” says Timo Resch, Head of Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M GmbH. “For us, this is a clear signal that the unique M feeling has arrived in the world of electrified vehicles.” The BMW i4 M50 is powered by an electric motor on both the front and rear axles, which together generate a maximum output of 400 kW/544 hp. The perfectly coordinated power delivery of the two e-motors and independent suspension tuning ensure an M-typical driving experience characterised by dynamics, agility and precision, which proved to be a real crowd-puller right from the outset.

With the BMW iX M60*, a second all-electric performance car from BMW M GmbH made a highly successful debut. During the course of 2023, BMW M GmbH will continue its product offensive with, among other things, the first electrified high-performance automobile, the BMW XM, and the BMW i7 M70, a BMW M automobile based on the fully electric BMW i7. The further transformation towards electric mobility has also already been mapped out. In order to be able to include high-performance cars with purely electric drive in the range in the future, BMW M GmbH will intensify the corresponding concept testing in 2023. The focus will be on an integrated driving dynamics control system and an electric M xDrive all-wheel drive system with four electric motors, which will ensure that the emotionally powerful M feeling reaches an even higher level.

Anniversary year with spectacular premieres, BMW M3 and BMW M4 remain on the road to success, fast-paced launch for the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupe*.
The celebrations of the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH were accompanied by debuts for numerous spectacular new models. The broad spectrum of new releases ranged from the second generation of the puristic BMW M2*, with its combination of straight six-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, which evokes classic driving pleasure in a high-performance automobile, to the extroverted BMW XM with its 480 kW/653 hp M HYBRID drive. The first BMW M3 Touring* also offers completely new ways to experience M-typical performance. This diversity creates ideal conditions for attracting additional target groups and generating further growth in 2023.

The current increase in sales figures is also based on sales successes in a wide range of vehicle segments. The high-performance sports cars of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 series, which – including the new BMW M3 Touring – are available in four body variants, in two performance levels, with a choice of a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, as well as with rear-wheel drive or the all-wheel drive system M xDrive, continued to enjoy particularly widespread popularity in 2022. BMW M GmbH thus covers a wide range of customer needs in this core segment.

With an exceptionally strong performance within their competitive environment, the high-performance cars based on BMW X models also contributed to BMW M GmbH's new sales record. The upcoming upgrade for the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M models in spring 2023 will provide effective impetus for a continuation of this success story.

The successful launch of the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupe in 2022 proved to be a highlight in the performance car segment. The new edition of the compact two-door is powered by a 275 kW/374 hp straight-six engine and is now also available with classic rear-wheel drive. “The new sales record for BMW M Automobiles is based on our successful presence in a broad range of vehicle segments,” says Timo Resch. “With our wide-ranging product portfolio, we are also ideally positioned for the future.”

Premiere at Daytona: the new BMW M3 CS* and the BMW M Hybrid V8.
In addition, BMW M GmbH fulfils the desire for particularly concentrated racing characteristics with attractive special models – as early as 2022 with the BMW M4 CSL* and soon with the new BMW M3 CS.

The BMW M3 CS will make its world debut on the last weekend of January as part of the 24-hour race at Daytona. The tradition-steeped competition in the US state of Florida is also the venue for BMW M Motorsport's comeback to endurance racing. The new BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete there for the first time. 47 years after the Daytona overall victory of the legendary BMW 3.0 CSL, the new LMDh prototype is set to race for points in the IMSA GTP class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship before also competing in the official FIA World Endurance Championship at Le Mans and elsewhere in 2024.

The final phase of the development process and the subsequent test drives on various race tracks were among the highlights of 2022 for the BMW M GmbH motorsport department, while the all-important success on the race track was the overall victory in the DTM drivers' and teams' championships. South African Sheldon van der Linde and Team Schubert Motorsport secured the title win in the prestigious touring car championship in the very first season with the new BMW M4 GT3.

*Consumption and emission values:
BMW i4 M50: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 22.5 – 18.1 WLTP.
BMW XM: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 1.6 – 1-5 WLTP; Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 30.1 – 28.9 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 36 – 33 WLTP.
BMW iX M60: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 24.7 – 21.9 WLTP.
BMW M240i xDrive Coupe: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 8.8 – 8.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 200 – 185 WLTP.
BMW M2: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 9.8 – 9.6 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 222 – 218 WLTP.
BMW M3 Touring: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.4 – 10.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 235 – 229 WLTP.
BMW M4 CSL: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.1 – 9.9 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 227 – 224 WLTP.
BMW M3 CS: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.4 – 10.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 234 – 229 WLTP.

Munich. For the third time in a row, BMW M GmbH ended the financial year as the global market leader in the performance and high-performance car segment. Indeed, the company posted record sales once again in 2021. A total of 163,542 BMW M cars were delivered to customers worldwide last year, a 13 percent increase on 2020.

This growth was spread equally between the High-Performance sports cars and Performance cars made by BMW M GmbH, with both product categories raising their sales figures to a new level. “This success is the perfect start to our anniversary year,” says Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “M is in a stronger position than ever as it celebrates its 50th birthday.”

New BMW M3 and new BMW M4 enjoy immediate success.

The biggest drivers of growth among the High-Performance sports cars were the new BMW M3 and BMW M4 models introduced in spring 2021. Fuelled by a vehicle concept focused squarely on emotionally charged dynamism and unprecedented diversity in the model range, the new BMW M3 Sedan (fuel consumption combined: 10.2 – 10.0 l/100 km [27.7 – 28.3 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 231 – 227 g/km as per WLTP), new BMW M4 Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 10.1 – 9.9 l/100 km [28.0 – 28.5 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 230 – 226 g/km as per WLTP) and new BMW M4 Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 10.2 l/100 km [27.7 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 233 – 231 g/km as per WLTP) got off to an extremely successful start. The latest model generation is the first to offer customers two output levels topping out at 375 kW/510 hp, the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and a choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.

“The response to the new generation of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 has been simply overwhelming,” reports Timo Resch, Vice President Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M GmbH. “We can therefore expect demand for these iconic sports cars to continue on an upward curve in 2022.”

Also making a powerful contribution to the latest rise in High-Performance model sales at BMW M GmbH were the BMW X5 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 13.6 – 13.3 l/100 km [20.8 – 21,2 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 308 – 303 g/km as per WLTP) and BMW X6 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 13.4 – 13.1 l/100 km [21.1 – 21.6 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 305 – 299 g/km as per WLTP). Following the successful market launch of the latest model generation the previous year, the charismatic High-Performance sports cars in the Sports Activity Vehicle and Sports Activity Coupé segment – both powered by a 460 kW/625 hp V8 engine – increased their sales figures once again in 2021.

Alluring and in demand: the BMW M models in the BMW 4 Series range.

The dynamic excellence, agility and precision for which M is renowned also enabled the brand’s Performance models to delight and excite a wide range of customers over the past year. Credit for the latest boost to sales goes above all to the M models based on the new BMW 4 Series. Particularly popular were the variants of the new BMW 4 Series Coupé, whose line-up consists of the BMW M440i Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 8.1 – 7.4 l/100 km [34.8 – 38.2 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 184 – 167 g/km as per WLTP) and BMW M440i xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 8.2 – 7.5 l/100 km [34.5 – 37.7 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 186 – 170 g/km as per WLTP) powered by a 275 kW/374 hp six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, and the BMW M440d xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 6.3 – 5.7 l/100 km [44.8 – 49.6 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 165 – 150 g/km as per WLTP), whose six-cylinder in-line diesel unit produces 250 kW/340 hp.

The latest BMW X models within the ranks of M’s Performance cars also proved extremely desirable. Indeed, the BMW X3 M40i powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine with 265 kW/360 hp (fuel consumption combined: 9.5 – 8.8 l/100 km [29.7 – 32.1 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 216 – 199 g/km as per WLTP) and the BMW X7 M50i (fuel consumption combined: 12.8 – 12.3 l/100 km [22.1 – 23.0 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 292 – 280 g/km as per WLTP) with its 390 kW/530 hp V8 unit both posted an increase in new registrations.

Looking ahead to an anniversary year brimming with highlights.

BMW M GmbH will continue its product offensive in this anniversary year with the addition of new High-Performance and Performance models. Highlights include the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 8.8 – 8.1 l/100 km [32.1 – 34.9 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 200 – 185 g/km as per WLTP) and the arrival later in the year of the first BMW M3 Touring and an exclusive special-edition model based on the new BMW M4 Coupé.

In addition, the BMW Group subsidiary – which was founded as BMW Motorsport GmbH in May 1972 and enjoys the status of an independent manufacturer – will also drive the transformation to electric mobility. Following in the tyre tracks of the BMW i4 M50 (electric power consumption combined: 22.5 – 18.0 kWh/100 km as per WLTP; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km) in the first half of 2022 will be the likewise fully electric BMW iX M60 (projected electric power consumption combined: 24.7 – 21.7 kWh/100 km as per WLTP; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km).

The most powerful BMW M model ever made points the way to the future of the brand.

The anniversary year will be crowned by the start of production of the BMW XM. The most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production is also the brand’s first High-Performance model to employ a plug-in hybrid drive system. Its newly developed M Hybrid technology brings together a V8 engine and a high-performance electric motor to develop maximum output of 550 kW/750 hp and peak torque of 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft). The design of the BMW XM majors on presence and extrovert appeal and in so doing sends out a clear statement in the luxury segment.

“Our first standalone model since the legendary BMW M1 represents a complete re-imagining of the high-performance car segment,” says van Meel. “The BMW XM blends expressive design and progressive interior luxury with an incomparable driving experience that serves up both sublime performance and the ability to glide along in near silence in all-electric mode. In so doing, it provides an inimitable expression of poise and assurance, and at the same time points the way to the future of our brand.”