BMW doubled global EV sales in first half of this year

BMW joins other EV automakers riding the wave of customer demand with its sales for the first 6 months of this year increasing by 110.3% - more than double - over the same period of last year. Together BMW and Mini sold 75,891 all-electric cars across the world.

It’s an impressive achievement on its own but it puts the BMW right at the top of the premium automotive segment overtaking competitors such as Mercedes-Benz or Audi according to one of the board members of the company. As with all data the results depend on the angle you take - counting Mini towards global sales makes sense but putting the brand into the premium segment is a bit of a stretch.

Despite this little discrepancy the results are great for BMW, it vindicates its push towards electrification of the entire lineup. The sales were achieved against the backdrop of persistent supply chain issues and lengthy delays due to lack of components. In total BMW group has sold 1,160,443 cars which is an increase of 13.3% over the same period last year. It clearly shows the EV segment is the one making the biggest moves.

BMW planned to double its EV sales this year and it seems to be off to a good start. The bookings just keep flooding in with the BMW i4 leading the pack with 34,000 customers from Europe patiently waiting for their car. In China sales are going up thanks to the BMW i3 and the iX1 and i7 have joined the lineup with the latter's official production beginning on July 1.

BMW electric range is only going to expand with the new Mini about to join the ranks and the BMW i5 to follow early next year. On the luxury end the BMW i7 will be joined by the first all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre and the MINI brand will get the new Countryman as well next year.

With the lineup growing so fast it is no surprise that BMW wants to have over 2 million electric cars on the road by 2025 when a completely new 3 series will join the EV race. The Neue Klasse will be 100% designed for electric propulsion only and will most likely be the most important model for BMW.

Plans are in motion - BMW wants half of its sales to come from electric cars by 2030, Rolls-Royce wants to be an all-electric car company by 2030 and MINI as well. Even BMW Motorrad is shifting to electricity with all motorbikes from the urban mobility segment about to become electric.

Classic metallic ring of the BMW M3 straight six or the low whine of the v8 are becoming a thing of the past very quickly. How long before the only way to listen to the two-cylinder boxer trying to pull itself apart will be a video on YouTube? Not long at all - and it’s not a bad thing, it’s about time we moved on to more efficient and more fun ways to move form one place to another.

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