all-time sales high
BMW has reported that its 2017 worldwide deliveries of motorcycles and scooters increased by +13.2% to 164,153 vehicles, with strong sales growth in Europe and Asia.
The strongest growth was recorded in Europe in 2017, where an all-time high was achieved – growth was driven by France (16,607 units / +24.3 %), Italy (14,430 units / +17.3 %), Spain (11,193 units / +17.6 %) and the UK / IE (9,550 units / +8.7 %).
Overall around +15.0 % more vehicles were delivered in Europe than in 2016. Their Asian market also continues to grow - China and Japan are among the Asian markets with the strongest double-digit growth. In India the BMW Group’s own sales subsidiary has begun successfully selling BMW motorcycles.
Germany is once again the largest single market for BMW Motorrad at +7.1 percent / 26,664 units sold; making it the leading brand in market share terms in its home market.
For the first time, more than 50,000 units of the two R 1200 GS and GS Adventure travel enduros were sold; sales of the traditionally strong R Series increased significantly overall; and thanks to the new R nineT model variants (“Pure”, “Racer” and “Urban G/S”) sales in the flat twin boxer segment increased strongly by +9.6% to a total of 86,090 motorcycles.
Worldwide, the sports-oriented BMW S Series with the S 1000 RR Supersports bike, the S 1000 R Power Roadster and the S 1000 XR Adventure bike sold 21,752 units in 2017 (13.3 percent of all BMW units sold). Introduced in 2017 and described as an “agile all-rounder”, 11,595 units of the G 310 R and G 310 GS models were sold, with demand reported to be strong in Europe, South America and Asia.
Sales of the 6-cylinder models “are also developing very positively. Already in its first year of sales, the K 1600 Bagger, which is aimed especially at the US market, is proof of the unbroken trend towards large-capacity, emotional touring bikes”.
Timo Resch, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “With 6,719 units sold and a 50% increase in sales, our 6-cylinder models are among the big winners of 2017. After Germany, the USA will remain an important market for BMW Motorrad in the coming years, too. We will continue to increase our involvement in this important market in order to strengthen BMW Motorrad’s position there.
“We are also responding to the special US market requirements with the K 1600 Grand America recently presented at the Milan motorcycle show by also consistently expanding our sales structure. In 2017 we proved ourselves to be the innovative leader in many areas.
“The exclusive HP4 RACE with its lightweight carbon fibre frame and wheels attracted great attention. We also responded to the need for increasing digitalisation expressed by customers – launching our multifunctional instrument cluster with 6.5 inch full-colour TFT display, featuring a wide range of navigation and communication functions. This feature is now being rolled out to further models too.
“We expect to see further growth in sales for our vehicles in 2018, and we are looking forward to seeing the demand for the completely new F 750 GS and F 850 GS and the much-anticipated C 400 X midsize scooter. Expanding our urban mobility product range is a key sector for the future of BMW Motorrad”.
