BMW plans 24 launches in 2022 including bikes and cars

After enjoying one of the most successful first quarters in India this year, the German luxury vehicle and motorcycle manufacturer BMW has revealed that it is planning to launch 24 new models in the country by the end of 2022.

The Munich based automaker also recently reported that it has registered a massive growth of over 25 per cent in its four-wheeler sales and a 41 per cent jump in two-wheelers in the first quarter. A senior company official added that despite the hurdles of the global semiconductor shortage, the crisis in Ukraine, and China’s COVID-19 shutdowns, the company has managed to achieve this colossal feat.

BMW will be taking the covers off of its 19 new four-wheelers and 5 new two-wheelers before the end of this year. In addition, it will also reveal the all-electric sedan i4 in the country by the end of this month. Speaking on the group’s product plans in India for 2022, BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah told PTI, “The product offensive continues for this year. For this year, we have outlined a total of 24 launches — 19 of cars and five of motorcycles.” He added that the all-electric sedan i4 will be one of the cars from the count of 19 new vehicles and the model will be showcased at the India Art Fair at the end of April but the “mega launch will happen in May” and “it will be the first luxury electric sedan to hit the market in India”.

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The German carmaker in its reports from January to March of 2022 stated that it observed one of the best quarters in the country. The automaker managed to dispatch a total of 2,815 units four-wheelers across the country which resulted in a growth of 25.3 percent. The BMW sedan and SUV lineup sold a total of 2,636 units, with the MINI premium small vehicle selling 179 units. During the same period, the group’s motorcycle brand – BMW Motorrad sales increased by 41.1 cent to 1,518 units.

Speaking on the strong sales figures Pawah also stated, “The supply is currently little restricted. We could have sold much, much more because we are holding roughly around 2,500 orders for four-wheelers and over 1,500 orders for motorcycles. Literally, you can say it could have been doubled,” Furthermore upon being asked about the prospects for the full year on the back of the Q1 performance, he said, “It is a dynamic situation this year with all the logistical challenges and the supply conditions across the world, that will determine how we do. We have got a very good order pipeline. If we are able to fulfil that, of course we are looking at a mega year.”

The senior official after being asked to elaborate on the hurdles stated that “The semiconductor shortage that we had is yet to be overcome fully. There are some additional challenges that are coming through now because of the geopolitical situation in Ukraine or the shutdowns because of COVID-19 in China right now.”

BMW in November of last year said that it will debut three electric vehicles in India within six months, accelerating the country’s electric mobility adventure. The all-electric SUV iX, all-electric MINI premium hatchback, and all-electric sedan BMW i4 were the company’s technological flagships.

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