BMW makes motorcycle milestone to mark 100th anniversary

BMW has announced record sales for its motorcycle division in 2023, as it marks its 100th anniversary year.

In total, BMW delivered 3.1 per cent more bikes in 2023 than it did the previous year, reaching a total of 209,257 motorcycles last year - a record sales volume for the manufacturer. 

Unsurprisingly, BMW’s strongest regional market was Europe, where it delivered 116,012 bikes representing a 4.7 per cent increase on 2022. Similarly unsurprising is that BMW’s strongest national market was that of its home country, Germany, where it delivered 24,176 bikes - up 0.2 per cent on 2022. France (21,668), Italy (16,179), and Spain (12,716) were also strong European markets for BMW last year.

In Eastern Europe, the Bavarian marque also marked a 105.4 per cent increase in deliveries, with 6,000 in total.

There was also growth for BMW in China (15,832 units, up 2.8 per cent) and India (8,768 units, up 20.4 per cent), while it will also be of little shock to know that BMW’s best-selling range was that of its GS adventure bikes.

The BMW R GS underwent an overhaul at the end of September last year, as the new R 1300 GS replaced the old R 1250 GS. Both performed strongly, though, as the 1250 - in both its standard and Adventure versions - delivered approximately 56,000 units, while the newer 1300 has delivered 4,528 units since its introduction late last year. In total, the three GS models sold 60,535 units in 2023, a 1.62 per cent rise over 2022.

BMW also sold 25,194 of its high-performance four-cylinder bikes - meaning the M 1000 RR, M 1000 R, S 1000 RR, S 1000 R, and S 1000 XR - in 2023, marking a 7.5 per cent increase. Further down the capacity chart, BMW’s up-to-500cc bikes sold 62,834 bikes, an increase of 3.2 per cent.

BMW’s CE electric scooters also performed better in 2023 than in 2022. Notably, the CE 04 was delivered in 7,177 units last year, a 44 per cent increase over the previous year. 

Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad, said: “I would like to thank our customers all over the world for the great trust they have placed in us again in 2023. With a record result in our anniversary year, BMW Motorrad remains the world's number one in the premium motorcycle and scooter segment and once again demonstrates the brand's successful strategic orientation. 

“Our market leadership in numerous segments is based on innovation leadership, our highly attractive product range and our strong brand. Based on these three main success factors, BMW Motorrad is ideally positioned and I am very confident about the year 2024.”

Stephan Reiff, Head of Sales and Brand at BMW Motorrad, said: "The sales record in our anniversary year is both an honour and an obligation. With numerous new, innovative models and products for our customers, we at BMW Motorrad will do everything in our power to build on this record year in 2024 and further consolidate our leading position in the premium segment. 

“Our new GS models in particular will play an important role here. This year, our customers and fans can once again look forward to numerous world premieres, highlights, events and emotionally charged motorcycle offers."

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