The BMW Group is on course to the desired sales target of 100,000 cars with an electrified drive in 2017. In the first quarter, nearly 20,000 vehicles were sold by BMW i and BMW iPerformance, although two of the most important sales drivers were only released in March and therefore did not affect the sales figures of electric cars and plug-in hybrids in the first quarter.
The BMW 530e iPerformance is a potential bestseller among the hybrids, combining the advantages of the new 5 Series G30 with a particularly economical drive. As the 530e, the 2017 BMW 5 Series reaches an EU standard consumption of 1.9 to 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers, but still offers consistent driving thanks to a system power of 252 hp. The low weight also contributes to this because, despite the complex drivetrain, the 530e weighs only 1,845 kilograms.
The MINI Cooper SE Countryman, which is targeting a somewhat younger target group, also has potential for large unit numbers.
Compared with the previous year, the sales of electric and plug-in hybrids are nearly double. In the full year 2016, the sales of vehicles with an electrified powertrain finally amounted to just over 62,000 vehicles.
One of the most important regions for the sale of electric cars and plug-in hybrids remains Scandinavia. In the north of Europe, a truly exciting anniversary was celebrated at the beginning of April. In Norway, the tenth-thousandth BMW i3 was already handed over to customers, since the introduction of the new 94Ah battery, the electric car has enjoyed great demand all over the world. With the facelift scheduled for this year, BMW i will be another impetus for i3 sales.
Dr. Ian Robertson (Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for sales and BMW brand): “The sales of our electrified models, of which we delivered almost 20,000 in the first quarter, are also growing strongly. This is the plan for our sales target of 100,000 electrified vehicles this year. “
