Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen all posted recent China sales declines
BMW Group reported a 6.3% decline in third-quarter vehicle deliveries to 551,072 units, with a 25% drop in China sales of its BMW and Mini brands offsetting growth in Europe and the United States. The German automaker, which houses its namesake brand along with the Mini and Rolls-Royce marques and a motorcycle business, said Tuesday that overall group sales fell 6.3% in the quarter to 551,072 vehicles.
The company sold 114,355 BMW and Mini branded vehicles in China during the quarter. “Business in China remained challenging,” BMW said, adding that the figures “reflect the performance of the automotive market as a whole.”
The China contraction is part of a broader pattern affecting European automakers. Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen have all recently reported lower sales in China amid a prolonged price war in the country’s auto market. European automakers have been grappling with a shrinking auto market in China coupled with intense competition that has sparked a prolonged price war.
Outside China, BMW’s results were more positive. Sales of BMW and Mini branded vehicles rose 2.7% in Europe and 2.5% in the U.S. during the quarter. Demand for fully electric vehicles increased, with the BMW iX3 providing “positive impetus for growth” in the third quarter, the company said.
BMW sales chief Jochen Goller highlighted the company’s product pipeline. “We are also seeing strong customer interest in the new BMW 3 Series and BMW X5,” Goller said. “The product momentum generated by our Neue Klasse models and Neue Klasse technologies strengthens our position for the challenges ahead.”