BMW, which had recorded the highest sales volume in the domestic imported car market for two consecutive years, maintained its leading position in the first quarter of this year. The sales of large vehicles and electric cars showed positive trends, sustaining growth.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) on the 2nd, the total number of new registrations for BMW from January to March this year was 18,612 units. This is a 9.7% increase compared to the same period last year (16,986 units). BMW recorded the highest sales volume for the first quarter in the last five years.
In second place was Mercedes-Benz, which recorded 15,215 new registrations in the first quarter of this year. Tesla, in third place, had 4,818 new registrations. Volvo ranked fourth with 3,503 units.
The models leading BMW's first-quarter sales were the 5 Series sedan and the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) X3. The 5 Series sold 5,571 units in the first quarter of this year, accounting for about 30% of BMW's total sales. The X3 sold 1,747 units, a 37.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This increase in sales is interpreted as being boosted by the release of the fourth-generation model, which was fully redesigned for the first time in seven years earlier this year.
BMW also saw an increase in sales of large vehicles such as the 7 Series and X7. The 7 Series sold 1,338 units in the first quarter of this year, representing a 68% increase compared to the same period last year. The X7 also sold 1,227 units in the first quarter.
BMW also excelled in the electric vehicle market, often regarded as the graveyard for import car companies. In the first quarter of this year, BMW's electric vehicle sales reached 1,157 units, ranking second after Tesla, which sold 4,818 units. Audi ranked third with 875 units, Volkswagen fourth with 789 units, and Porsche fifth with 705 units. The BMW i7, priced at over 170 million won, sold 119 units in the first quarter, maintaining growth.
BMW analyzed that the increase in sales of large vehicles and electric cars was due to Korea-friendly marketing. BMW purchased vehicle parts from Korean corporations such as Samsung Electronics and first revealed new cars in Korea. This year marks the launch of a test drive event for electric vehicles called BEV Membership, commemorating its 30th anniversary, and over the past two years, more than 2,000 charging stations have been installed in the country.
BMW was also the first among import car companies to participate in the pilot project for reporting electric vehicle battery abnormalities to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This initiative establishes a monitoring and reporting system to quickly alert the fire department in case an electric vehicle fire is suspected. In addition to BMW, Hyundai Motor also participates. To implement this project, the vehicle's Battery Management System (BMS) must be equipped with battery status monitoring and communication notification features while parked, and BMW is the only import car company applying this technology to its vehicles.