BMW reported a 3.5% drop in global deliveries in the first quarter of 2026, mainly due to weakening demand in two key markets, the United States and China. It delivered 565,748 vehicles between January and March.
Though the Germany-headquartered company saw some growth in Europe, it was not enough to make up for falling sales. In the United States, deliveries dropped by 4.3%, while in China, BMW’s largest market, sales fell sharply by 10%. This slowdown in China played a major role in pulling down overall global numbers.
Europe growth and EV demand offer some support
BMW’s sales in Europe grew by 3%, with Germany itself showing strong momentum. Deliveries in Germany rose 10.7% to 68,022 units. The company also saw rising interest in electric vehicles (EVs), especially in Europe, where orders for fully electric models jumped about 40% compared to last year. This was partly driven by new models like the Neue Klasse lineup. However, this growth was not enough to offset declines in major markets. The core BMW brand sold 496,050 vehicles globally leading to a 4.6% decline. Its high-performance M division also dropped 5.9% after a strong 2025.
BMW’s EV sales jump 83% in India
In contrast to global trends, BMW Group India reported its best-ever first quarter, with sales rising 17% to 4,567 cars. Electric vehicles played a big role in this growth, with EV sales jumping 83% year-on-year. Today, one in every four BMW cars sold in India is electric, and the company holds over 70% share in the luxury EV segment.
What is behind the overall drop in sales
The main reason for BMW’s global decline is clear, slowing demand in China and the United States, which are two of its most important markets. Even though Europe and India showed strong growth, especially in electric vehicles, these gains were not enough to balance out the sharp fall in China and softer demand in the US