BMW delivered 100,210 vehicles in the U.S. between July and September, marking a 3.4% increase from the same period last year. Through the first nine months of 2026, BMW has sold 287,154 vehicles in the U.S., up 4.3% year over year.
Beneath those gains, however, individual models are moving in very different directions. The 3 Series posted one of the biggest increases, while the iX suffered a sharp decline despite the arrival of its replacement approaching.
BMW 3 Series Sales Jump 46.4%
BMW delivered 11,256 3 Series sedans in the third quarter, up 46.4% from the 7,689 sold during the same period last year. Through the first nine months of 2026, the 3 Series has reached 29,987 units, a 37.3% increase.
The increase comes as BMW prepares to transition to a new-generation 3 Series. The G50 made its world debut a few days ago, putting the outgoing model in the final stretch of its life just as sales have accelerated.
M3 sales are included with those of the regular 3 Series, while BMW is expected to continue the G80 for a while. Rather than waiting for the replacement, U.S. buyers are continuing to purchase the current model, potentially as BMW clears out the existing car before the new one arrives.
Whatever the reason, the G20 is experiencing a significant surge in sales during its final stretch.
The X3 and X5 Lead BMW’s U.S. Sales
The X3 was BMW’s best-selling model in the U.S. during the third quarter, with 22,457 units delivered between July and September. The X5 followed closely with 22,313 units during the same period.
Together, the two SUVs accounted for nearly 45% of BMW’s U.S. sales in the third quarter, underscoring their importance to the lineup. The X5’s outgoing G05 continues to attract buyers even as the G65 is about to reach the market.
BMW iX Sales Collapse in Q3
The BMW iX moved in the opposite direction. BMW sold just 121 iX SUVs in the third quarter, compared with 3,136 during the same period last year, representing a 96.1% decline.
Through September, iX sales were down 63.9%, with 3,566 units sold compared with 9,878 during the same point in 2025.
BMW USA has ended allocations, while the iX5 is right around the corner. The iX is also expected to remain in production in other markets until around mid-2028, even as the iX5 approaches U.S. dealers.
XM Sales Also Decline
The XM also recorded a decline during the third quarter. BMW sold 355 examples of its plug-in hybrid M SUV, down 12.8% from the 407 units sold during the same quarter a year earlier.
Year to date, XM sales are down 6.6% to 1,141 vehicles. There is no word about a mid-cycle facelift that could potentially rejuvenate sales, and there is also uncertainty over whether a successor is planned.
BMW’s 8 Series, X4 and Z4 Sales Fall
The 8 Series is also heading lower, with production already ended. That means there is not a large supply of fresh inventory heading toward U.S. dealers.
The same situation applies to the X4, which BMW stopped making last November. The Z4 is also nearing the end of its production run, with BMW and Magna Steyr having wrapped up production of the roadster.
Z4 sales fell 24.3% to 406 units in the third quarter. Despite the quarterly decline, sales remain up 23.7% for the year following a stronger first half.
BMW’s third-quarter U.S. results therefore show a sharply mixed performance across its lineup, with overall deliveries rising 3.4% while individual models experience significant gains and declines.
