BMW Group sales fell 6.3% in the third quarter of 2026 as a steep decline in China outweighed growth in Europe and the United States. The German automaker delivered 551,072 vehicles worldwide from July through September, with deliveries in China dropping nearly 25%. Electric vehicle sales offered some relief, but the company’s overall performance remained under pressure during the first nine months of the year.

BMW Group Sales Decline Despite Growth in Europe and the U.S.

BMW Group delivered 551,072 vehicles worldwide in the third quarter, down 6.3% from the same period in 2025. China remained the biggest obstacle, with deliveries plunging 24.8% to 114,355 vehicles.

Growth in two major Western markets could not make up for the shortfall. Deliveries in Europe increased 2.7% to 235,628 vehicles, while BMW and MINI deliveries in the United States rose 2.5% to 106,741 units.

The results highlight the pressure BMW faces in China, the world’s largest car market, as competition from domestic automakers intensifies. Although the company gained ground in Europe and the U.S., the scale of its Chinese sales decline continued to weigh on global deliveries.

China Weakness Weighs on BMW’s 2026 Results

BMW Group’s performance through the first nine months of 2026 shows the same pattern. The automaker delivered 1,707,799 vehicles worldwide through September, a 4.9% decline compared with the same period last year.

Europe recorded a 4.5% increase to 732,279 vehicles, while U.S. deliveries climbed 3.4% to 307,402 units. China moved in the opposite direction, with deliveries falling 21.8% to 376,128 vehicles.

For the BMW brand alone, year-to-date deliveries in China declined 21.2%. The company said its performance reflects broader conditions in the automotive market, where domestic manufacturers continue to put pressure on established foreign brands.

BMW is not the only German luxury automaker facing weaker demand in China. Mercedes, Audi and Porsche have also reported declining sales in the market as local brands compete aggressively on pricing, technology and features.

BMW’s upcoming long-wheelbase i3, iX3 and X5/iX5 models could help strengthen its position, although the company faces a challenging market environment.

BMW Electric Vehicle Sales Rise in the Third Quarter

Fully electric vehicles provided a positive development for BMW Group during the third quarter. The company delivered 110,257 fully electric vehicles worldwide, an increase of 7.2% compared with the same period in 2025.

Europe was particularly strong, with fully electric vehicle deliveries jumping 37.5% to 81,941 units. Fully electric models represented 34.7% of BMW Group’s deliveries in the region, while Germany recorded a 38.5% increase in electric vehicle deliveries.

The gains offer a contrast to the group’s broader sales decline, but they have not yet translated into growth in fully electric deliveries for the year as a whole.

Neue Klasse Models Draw Strong Customer Interest

BMW expects its Neue Klasse lineup to play an increasingly important role in its recovery. The company said the new iX3 has attracted more than 100,000 orders in Europe within a year of its launch.

The model, identified as the “NA5,” has become BMW’s most successful model launch to date. The automaker has also reported strong customer interest in the new 3 Series/i3 and X5/iX5.

However, BMW’s year-to-date electric vehicle figures remain mixed. Fully electric deliveries fell 2.7% to 314,552 vehicles in the first nine months of 2026.

Total electrified deliveries, which include plug-in hybrids, declined 5.1% to 446,202 vehicles over the same period.

MINI Sales Grow as BMW and Rolls-Royce Decline

Performance varied across BMW Group’s brands. MINI was a standout, with deliveries rising 6.8% to 220,247 vehicles through September.

Fully electric models accounted for 37.2% of MINI’s year-to-date sales. John Cooper Works models and the Paul Smith Edition also helped support demand.

BMW’s core brand, by contrast, delivered 1,483,960 vehicles in the first nine months of the year, down 6.4%. The BMW M business also declined, with deliveries falling 6.1% to 148,510 vehicles.

Rolls-Royce deliveries dropped 12.4% to 3,592 units over the same period. BMW Motorrad, the group’s motorcycle and scooter business, also recorded a decline, with deliveries slipping 6.1% to 149,452 units.

BMW Faces a Mixed Outlook After Nine Months

BMW Group’s 2026 results through September reflect sharply different trends across its markets and brands. Growth in Europe, the United States and MINI, along with stronger third-quarter electric vehicle deliveries, has been outweighed by the continued downturn in China and declines at several of the group’s businesses.

With worldwide deliveries down 4.9% for the first nine months of the year, BMW’s challenge remains balancing progress in electric vehicles and Western markets against persistent weakness in China.