BMW Q1 Sales Dip as EV Demand Slumps and China Weakens

BMW Group announced its first-quarter 2026 sales figures, revealing a total of 565,748 vehicles delivered across its BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands. This represents a 3.5% decrease compared to the same period last year. The results highlight a diverging trend in powertrain demand. While petrol and diesel models saw slightly higher demand, the company's electric vehicle (EV) segment struggled significantly. Global sales of fully electric vehicles fell 20.1% to 87,458 units. Geographically, the performance was mixed. Germany showed strong resilience with a 10.7% increase in sales, totaling 68,022 vehicles. Conversely, the critical Chinese market saw a 10% decline, with deliveries falling to 143,958 vehicles. In the United States, a reduction in government incentives for electric cars negatively impacted EV adoption, though demand for internal combustion engine models increased. Despite these headwinds, BMW is banking on its multi-technology strategy and the rollout of new models. The company has begun production of the 'Neue Klasse' series and initiated deliveries of the electric iX3 in Europe this March. Following the announcement, BMW shares on the XETRA fell 1.65% to trade at 82.50 euros.