BMW Group India sales for Q1 2020 are higher than that of Mercedes Benz India, regaining the title of India’s No 1 luxury car brand after 7 years
After a prolonged period of staying on sidelines of the Indian luxury car market, BMW is making a comeback but under an extraordinary market scenario. For the first quarter of 2020 (a good portion of which is marred by the lockdown), the premium brand posted sales of 2,482 cars (both BMW and MINI included) which is better than Mercedes India’s tally of 2,386 units, its lowest in the last 7 years.
BMW’s locally assembled range of SUVs – X1, X3, X5 and X7 – contributed to over 50% of the sales in the first quarter of this year. Mini contributed to the total sales with 117 units of which over 60% came from the Mini hatchback and Countryman compact crossover. Speaking about the latest quarterly performance, Rudratej Singh, President and CEO, BMW India, said that the company will stay resilient and responsive in every way during this crisis.
BMW Car Sales in India – Q1 2020
| BMW | Sales | Diff YoY | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2020 | 2,365 | -457 | -16.19 |
| Q1 2019 | 2,822 | 445 | 18.72 |
| Q1 2018 | 2,377 | 236 | 11.02 |
| Q1 2017 | 2,141 | – | – |
To tackle the many operational difficulties BMW has introduced several contactless initiatives to meet the requirements of existing and prospective customers through its dealer network. BMW says that its financial arm played an instrumental role in enabling sales performance during this challenging time.
BMW + Mini India Sales – Q1 2020
| BMW + MINI | Sales |
|---|---|
| Q1 2020 | 2,482 |
| Q1 2019 | 2,982 |
| Q1 2018 | 2,513 |
| Q1 2017 | 2,251 |
BMW Motorrad, the brand’s two wheeler wing, has managed to sell 1,024 units in the first three months of the year. The lion’s share of contribution came from the locally manufactured entry-level G 310 R and G 310 GS motorcycles.
With the lockdown robbing automakers of crucial time, depleting old BS-IV stocks would be extremely challenging if the government doesn’t provide ample extra time. So we can expect significant discounts and attractive offers from OEMs the moment the lockdown is lifted. Audi India is one of the few OEMs to have cleared its old stock already.
BMW Group India vs Mercedes India – Q1 2020 Sales
| Sales | BMW Group | Mercedes | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2020 | 2,482 | 2,386 | 96 |
| Q1 2019 | 2,982 | 3,885 | -903 |
| Q1 2018 | 2,513 | 4,556 | -2,043 |
| Q1 2017 | 2,251 | 3,650 | -1,399 |
Audi India, in a statement released to Rushlane, confirmed that it will revamp its entire product portfolio in the country, and all of its upcoming products will be next gen models or comprehensive facelifts. As of now, Audi only has three models listed on its website – A6, A8 L and Q8.
If 2019 was a rough year for the Indian automotive industry, 2020 is shaping up to be even worse. With shutdowns and projected negative growths in pretty much every sector, the luxury car market is expected to face dull demand for several months to come. The volume battle between the big three German brands will not really be the same this year since all of them are poised to register lowest sales in the recent history.