Hot! BMW AG: What's Next

[Centurion]

The world can't get enough of large SUVs, yet the XM has only sold 388 units in Q1 USA. Surely they a failure - especially when it's even outsold by the 8 series.

 

[leylandi]

iX7

 

[SKY]

The world can't get enough of large SUVs, yet the XM has only sold 388 units in Q1 USA. Surely they a failure - especially when it's even outsold by the 8 series.

Hardly surprissing, the car is a turd.

 

[martinbo]

The XM is a rare misstep from BMW. That said, they never intended it to be sold in large volumes. Pretty much a niche choice.

 

[Centurion]

The XM is a rare misstep from BMW. That said, they never intended it to be sold in large volumes. Pretty much a niche choice.

It's life. Win some lose some. However it might have sold better if there was an ice only option with more compliant suspension. I find it more attractive than the X6.

 

[klier]

XM's only redeeming aspect is IMO its interior, which remains pretty devine.
The exterior manages to become uglier over time, which is impressive.

 

[Matski]

That said, they never intended it to be sold in large volumes.

Yeah, I have to wonder what the reaction to forthcoming Alpina models will be in this regard. G1x B7 sold about 2000 units across it's entire life span, it'd be low numbers even compared to some Rolls-Royces, yet people never consider them to be sales flops. I don't know why people aren't as accepting of a similarly niche product in the XM, and I'm wondering how the Alpina's of the near future will fare - I suspect I know the answer.

I find it more attractive than the X6.

I think it's BMW's best looking current SUV. Not that I need an SUV, nor can I afford an XM, but if I did, and I could, I definitely buy one.

especially when it's even outsold by the 8 series.

8 Series is in the process of being discontinued IIRC, yet it's significantly up on last year, I'd imagine dealers are just dumping inventory now to get rid.

 

[SKY]

The FL G70 7er and new X7 seem to be exactly what BMW needs for its upper segment.

No need for more experiments.

 

[klier]

G1x B7 sold about 2000 units across it's entire life span

The upcoming new one should like triple that at the very least. They didn't buy Alpina to only sell a few hundred cars a year.
What numbers does the S Maybach do? Alpina should be in that ballpark

 

[Esp5]

yet the XM has only sold 388 units in Q1 USA.

That's only 17 units less than at this time last year, so it's not a big change there. It seems the USA didn't turn out to be the market they expected; it's much more successful abroad, where it averages a consistent 7,500 / 8,000 units per year, which isn't bad for a niche product.

 

[Matski]

The upcoming new one will triple that.

I mean, it might easily do that if it's particularly low effort, but the point is that would still only be 6000 units across a full life cycle. XM was up to about 22,000 units at the end of last year (3 years) and it's a 'failure'.

 

[klier]

Yeah fair point, the Alpina will be far more niche than XM. Then again, the XM is like 100k cheaper than an X5 M and is pretty bang for the buck here in my country.

XM also is an SUV, the hottest segment on the market. So in that aspect 22k is a little low. A very expensive sedan is a whole different order of magnitude and indeed actually niche unlike a full size SUV.

 

[leylandi]

What numbers does the S Maybach do? Alpina should be in that ballpark

Annual Maybach sales are 25,000 units.

 

[Esp5]

No need for more experiments.

I believe that experiments are enriching in every way, as long as they are not delusional and are well thought out.

G1x B7 sold about 2000 units across it's entire life span,

The upcoming new one should like triple that at the very least. They didn't buy Alpina to only sell a few hundred cars a year.
What numbers does the S Maybach do? Alpina should be in that ballpark

I completely agree. The business model for the operation stems from Maybach's success as a trim, which, with all its variants, averages 15,000 to 20,000 units per year (perhaps even a little more). You also have Bentley at that level (15,000 units), so I estimate that's the goal, or to take half of that market share, well above the 2,000 total units of the "old" Alpina per year.

 

[leylandi]

 

[klier]

Annual Maybach sales are 25,000 units.

The S class or combined with the EQS and GLS?

 

[Esp5]

The S class or combined with the EQS and GLS?

Combined, but the S class takes the lion's share.

 

[leylandi]

The S class or combined with the EQS and GLS?

Total

 

[Uygar]

Yeah, I have to wonder what the reaction to forthcoming Alpina models will be in this regard. G1x B7 sold about 2000 units across it's entire life span, it'd be low numbers even compared to some Rolls-Royces, yet people never consider them to be sales flops. I don't know why people aren't as accepting of a similarly niche product in the XM, and I'm wondering how the Alpina's of the near future will fare - I suspect I know the answer.



I think it's BMW's best looking current SUV. Not that I need an SUV, nor can I afford an XM, but if I did, and I could, I definitely buy one.



8 Series is in the process of being discontinued IIRC, yet it's significantly up on last year, I'd imagine dealers are just dumping inventory now to get rid.

XM looks wild in real life. I totally get why some people find it atrocious looking as it’s a total departure from the BMW design we know of, but still, looks super futuristic and unique. I also didn’t understand why people expected it to be a best seller or something, as it was never marketed to be such vehicle, or I’m totally missing something, lol.

 

[leylandi]

If Mercedes had designed the XM, you would think the opposite and mock them.