MUNICH – The BMW Group has officially entered the next chapter of its electrification journey with a massive response to the Neue Klasse launch. Driven by overwhelming interest in the first-ever BMW iX3, the company recorded a 40% year-on-year increase in fully-electric vehicle (BEV) orders across Europe during the first quarter of 2026.
Despite a complex global market, the appetite for BMW’s new generation of electric mobility is exceeding internal forecasts.
The iX3: A Quantum Leap in Demand
Since order books opened in Europe, the new BMW iX3 has secured over 50,000 orders. Most notably, the electric variant now accounts for more than half of all BMW X3 orders in the region.
“The strong demand for the BMW iX3 underlines the quantum leap in technology we are making with the Neue Klasse,” stated Jochen Goller, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
Goller also noted that early feedback on the recently unveiled BMW i3 the second Neue Klasse model has been “extremely positive,” suggesting the momentum is set to continue as the lineup expands.
Global Performance and Drivetrain Diversity
While the European market showed strength with a 3.0% increase in regional deliveries (236,422 units), the global picture remained mixed due to shifting economic conditions and the discontinuation of BEV incentives in the United States.
- Global Deliveries: The BMW Group delivered 565,748 vehicles across its BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands, a slight dip of 3.5% compared to the previous year.
- Domestic Growth: Germany remains a stronghold for the brand, with 68,022 units delivered a significant 10.7% increase.
- Brand Highlights: * MINI continued its winning streak, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth with 68,427 units (+5.9%).
- Rolls-Royce delivered 1,271 luxury motor cars, maintaining its exclusive market position despite an 8% cooling in Q1.
- BMW M GmbH saw 47,544 units delivered, remaining a key pillar of the brand’s performance identity.
Market Dynamics: A Technology-Neutral Approach
While BEV orders are surging in Europe, the US market saw a temporary pivot back toward internal combustion engines (ICE) following the removal of electric vehicle incentives. BMW’s strategy of offering a “technology-neutral” portfolio allowed the brand to hold its ground, capturing increased ICE demand where electric growth slowed.
In China, despite a broader market decline that saw BMW Group sales dip by 10%, the company managed to outperform the general downward trend in the premium segment.
Q1 2026 Sales at a Glance
| Category | Units Delivered (Q1 2026) | Change vs. 2025 |
| BMW Group Automotive | 565,748 | -3.5% |
| BMW Brand | 496,050 | -4.6% |
| MINI | 68,427 | +5.9% |
| Rolls-Royce | 1,271 | -8.0% |
| BMW Motorrad | 42,735 | -4.2% |
The Road Ahead
With the first BMW iX3 deliveries reaching European customers in March, the real impact of the Neue Klasse on total delivery volume is expected to manifest in the coming quarters. The group remains confident that the global availability of these next-gen models, combined with an industry-leading range of up to 805 km (WLTP) for the iX3, will drive a positive trajectory for the remainder of 2026.
