Things for BMW Motorrad just seem to be getting better and better, with the brand announcing they sold more motorcycles and maxi scooters in 2016 than ever before.
Sales increased by 5.9 % (or just over 8,000 bikes) as compared to the previous year. As of December 2016, a total of 145,032 vehicles were supplied to customers globally.
“2016 was once again a highly successful year for BMW Motorrad, said BMW Motorrad President, Stephan Schaller. “For the sixth time in succession we have been able to set a new sales record. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all our customers worldwide for the enormous trust they have placed in us. Over the last six years, BMW Motorrad has increased its deliveries to customers by around 50% (2010: 98,047 units / 2016: 145,032 units). We are well on the way to achieving our planned sales target of 200,000 vehicles in 2020.”
The majority of sales growth surprisingly came from Europe as well as Asia, with markets such as Spain and Italy recording sales increases over 10% on the previous year, and Thailand increasing by a massive 42%.
Germany remains the biggest single market for BMW Motorrad. With 24,894 units sold, BMW Motorrad achieved growth of 4.5% and led the market as a whole.
The top-selling BMW Motorrad models are traditionally from the R series, and last year was no different. BMW’s boxer engined globetrotter, the R 1200 GS, accounted for over 50% of sales in 2016. In all the sales achieved by these motorcycles was 77,787 units or 53.6 % of total BMW Motorrad sales in 2016.
The sporty BMW S models – the supersports bike S 1000 RR, the power roadster S 1000 R and the adventure bike S 1000 XR – have developed into an additional high volume selling series within the BMW motorcycle range, with a total of 23,686 S models supplied worldwide last year.
Model offensive moves into the next round.
This year BMW Motorrad continues its model offensive with the widest range of motorcycles in the company’s history. As Schaller says: “We intend to remain the benchmark in the segment of premium motorcycles. To this end we will continue to consistently pursue our model offensive in the BMW Motorrad segments of 310 to 1600 cubic centimetres capacity. For the 2017 season we will be offering our customers 14 new or revised models.”
The new G 310 GS is due to be launched in the second half of the year. Like the G 310 R does in the segment of BMW roadsters, the second model of the BMW G series transfers the hallmark features of the GS family into the new BMW segment below 500 cubic centimetres. In the “Heritage” world of experience customers will have a choice of five different models in 2017. The R nineT derivatives “Pure”, “Racer” and “Urban G/S” extend a range that will also include the R nineT Scrambler and the freshly revised lead model R nineT. While each of the five models has its own distinct and classic form, they all share the unique air-cooled boxer engine. Whether featuring specific improvements or radical revisions, there are new products to be found in all series – such as the new R 1200 GS, the new S 1000 R and the new K 1600 GT and GTL.
The new K 1600 B is targeted specifically to the US market. With the launch of the “Bagger” BMW Motorrad is extending the luxury segment with the in-line 6-cylinder engine to include a highly emotional and exclusive motorcycle. As Stephan Schaller says: “In the years to come, the USA will be the second most important market for BMW Motorrad after Germany. We see great potential here. In the next few years we aim to tangibly increase our market share in the USA. In fact we’re already laying the foundation for long-term growth by introducing new products tailored specifically to market needs such as the new bagger and the classic R nineT family in the “Heritage” segment, and we’re also extending our sales and distribution structure, too.”
If the last six years are anything to go by, this year is going to be another cracker year for BMW.
