BMW G 310 among brand’s top 5 models

BMW Motorrad sales at the end of 2018 at an all-time high of 1.65 lakh units helped by the made-in-India G 310s; 2,187 units sold in India during 2018.

Published On Jan 22, 2019 06:00:00 AM

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BMW Motorrad’s international sales in 2018 have eclipsed the previous year’s figures, with 1,65,566 units delivered during the year compared to 1,64,153 units in 2017. With sales having been strong in the previous year as well, a growth of 0.9 percent was registered.

According to Dr Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, “2018 was another very successful year for BMW Motorrad. We achieved a sales record for the eighth time in succession.”

BMW Motorrad has plans to reach its sales target of 2,00,000 units by 2020. Schramm also said, “The 2018 sales figure shows that our motorcycle growth strategy is taking effect. This success was achieved due to the market launch of six new models as well as the powerful BMW Motorrad product portfolio. And we still have a great deal planned for the coming years. Our ongoing model initiative in the premium segment continues. We will expand our product range with emotional and innovative new products in 2019, too. We will also be increasing our involvement in motorsport significantly. In the 2019 season, the new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will lining up at the start with the BMW S 1000 RR at the FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK).

Significant growth in India, China and Brazil

In India, BMW’s two-wheeler division sold a total of 2,187 units in CY2018. The brand said that launch of the locally produced BMW G 310 R and BMW G 310 GS, which roll out from TVS Motor Co’s plant in Hosur, Bangalore, boosted sales, contributing to over 75 percent of the total BMW motorcycles sold in India. In 2017, the company had sold 252 units in the April-December 2017 period. On December 13, 2018, the 50,000th BMW 310cc motorcycle rolled out of the Hosur plant in the presence of Dr Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, and KN Radhakrishnan, director and CEO, TVS Motor Company. In April 2013, TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad had signed a long-term strategic partnership to manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles for global markets. This collaboration has resulted in the launch of three products on the 310cc platform namely BMW G 310 R, BMW 310 GS and the TVS Apache RR 310.

Interestingly, the midsize capacity segment below 500cc is among the top five models for BMW Motorrad. A total of 24,363 units of the G 310 R and G 310 GS models produced in India since 2017 have already been delivered to customers by the end of 2018. The two bikes are among the top five highest-selling models in 2018 for the brand and are very popular all over the world, says BMW Motorrad.

BMW Motorrad is continuing to expand in China and Brazil, too. With 7,561 BMW motorcycles and scooters sold and a growth rate of over 35 percent, China together with Brazil (7,361 units / +11 percent) are among the markets with the strongest growth.

Strong sales in Europe and the USA

BMW Motorrad has reported strong sales in big European markets and in the US. The most important markets were France (16,615 units), Italy (14,110 units), Spain (11,124 units) and the UK / IE (9,224 units) as well as the USA (13,842 units). With 23,824 units, Germany is the largest individual market for BMW Motorrad yet again.

For the first time in BMW Motorrad’s history, more than 51,000 units of the R 1200/1250 GS and GS Adventure travel enduros were sold. With a total of around 84,500 units, the traditionally strong R Series once again confirmed its leading position in the overall range. The R nineT model variants played a significant role here in 2018. 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 were sold 18,773 times worldwide.

2019 growth outlook

According to Timo Resch, “We expect to see further growth in sales for our vehicles in 2019, too. We are looking forward to the positive impulses generated by our new products from the R 1250 boxer family, the much anticipated new S 1000 R as well as the F 850 GS Adventure which expands the midsize BMW Motorrad model range. Expanding our urban mobility product range with the market launch of the two scooters C 400 X and C 400 GT will also contribute to success in 2019.”