Everyone knows that BMW is a major player in the luxury car game. That’s precisely what it has delivered for a long time: luxury sedans and smaller, sporty models designed to elevate every moment you spend behind the wheel. In recent years, however, BMW has added more and more SUVs to its lineup, culminating in the BMW X7, a large, three-row SUV that’s a far cry from iconic models like the BMW 3 Series. Yet many people are flocking to dealerships in search of a BMW X7 for sale, along with their other SUVs. Is BMW becoming a luxury SUV company instead of a sports sedan company?
BMW USA Sales Figures for 2024
The best way to fully appreciate what’s happening with BMW lately is by looking at its sales figures. After all, any good business should try to provide a product that its customers want. What people are buying is one of the simplest, clearest indicators of that. BMW is pretty forthcoming with that information, and we can see the sales figures for each model from 2024. Here are the top eight best-selling models in the US last year and how many sold, which gives us a good sense of what’s going on.
- X5: 72,348
- X3: 68,798
- 4 Series: 42,608
- 3 Series: 31,330
- X7: 29,632
- X1: 27,306
- 5 Series: 25,315
- 2 Series: 15,384
Half of these models are SUVs, and the other half are cars. In fact, the two best-selling vehicles are SUVs, with the top spot selling nearly as many units here in the US as the two best-selling sedans combined. That tells us everything we need to know about what people are buying and explains why BMW is giving its SUVs so much attention. The X7, a three-row SUV with a spacious interior that is the largest vehicle BMW has ever made, was its fifth-place model last year. Some people might’ve considered such a large vehicle a gamble for BMW, but it’s clearly paid off, and customers have spoken.
What Does This Mean for BMW?
The numbers make it pretty simple to figure out that people want SUVs. You can see this across the auto industry, and this data from BMW simply supports what everyone already knows. It’s reasonable to assume that BMW will shift more of its resources and energy into making more SUVs and making its SUVs more appealing. After all, any sales figures, no matter how good, serve as a target that they want to surpass the following year or quarter. Even though BMW sold plenty of sedans last year, it sold even more SUVs and wants even more of that.
Does that mean that small sedans will be left completely behind? I doubt it. The numbers we looked at support this idea, too. Sure, BMW sold more SUVs than sedans, but the 3 Series and 4 Series were still its third and fourth-best-selling models last year, with the 5 Series and 2 Series not too far behind that. This isn’t something that BMW will want to leave on the table, so I don’t imagine we will see it go the way of Ford and Chevy, who axed their sedan models entirely, any time soon. In fact, from 2023 to 2024, Series 2 sales in the US were up more than 32%, which is the biggest gain for any model last year. That’s a coup (or should I say coupe?) for small cars and showcases that there’s still plenty of interest there.
How Does the BMW X7 Figure Into This?
I’ve mentioned the BMW X7 a couple of times now, largely because it’s the perfect indication of where things are going for BMW, and the auto industry in general. The X7 was first revealed less than a decade ago, but 15 or 20 years ago, the idea of a large, three-row SUV from BMW would’ve likely drawn some laughs from plenty of drivers. BMW became known for making small sedans with big performance, but clearly, that’s not the case anymore, and the success of the X7 illustrates this perfectly.
Of course, a big part of this success is that models like the X7 don’t turn the BMW formula on its head, nor do they try to revolutionize things. BMW is known for luxury features, comfort, and excellent performance. These SUVs, even the large X7, continue to deliver in this regard, with incredibly comfortable seating, innovative technology inside and out, and powerful engines that deliver a fantastic driving experience. The fact that you can get a twin-turbo engine with 631 hp in the 2026 X7 showcases this. Sure, not everyone is going to pony up the bucks for the Alpina XB7 that delivers that performance, but it’s an option for people who want massive power and sophisticated elegance in a spacious, three-row SUV.
A Larger Portrait of the Modern Auto Industry
For anyone who doubts that SUVs have taken over the auto industry, the numbers across the board show this is undoubtedly the case. Almost without fail, the best-selling vehicles from most brands are SUVs, whether you’re looking at your typical daily driver, off-road machines, or luxury models. Even high-performance luxury vehicles are moving toward more SUV options and fewer sedans. I’m not going to pretend that I can fully explain why that is, but it likely comes down to how these models deliver so much in a single package.
Someone interested in a high-performance sports car that only has room inside for two passengers will find that and be happy with it, but that’s always been a niche market. Even folks interested in a six-figure luxury machine might not want to be restricted by something with such little space inside. With a BMW SUV, you can get impressive performance, elegant designs, and plenty of luxury and comfort features, all in a package with room for your family and everything you need to bring with you. Plus, these large and powerful luxury SUVs work quite well for celebrities and other wealthy folks who have drivers, since they have very comfortable second rows with plenty of space to stretch out.
If you think this is unique to BMW, sales figures from almost every brand support what I’m saying. For example, Cadillac’s top-sellers in 2024 were the Escalade, the LYRIQ, the XT5, XT4, and XT6. Even Porsche, the platonic ideal of a sports-car brand known for incredible performance, has given in and been rewarded for it. Last year, Porsche sold about 14,000 911 models in the US, more than 22,000 Cayenne models, and more than 25,000 Macan models.
Keep Calm and Enjoy Your Vehicle
What does this mean for those interested in what companies like BMW are doing and how the auto industry is changing? Just enjoy it. You’ll still find plenty of options if you’re interested in a stylish and practical sedan or a sophisticated and luxurious car. On the other hand, if you’re one of the growing number of drivers looking for a great SUV, then you’re spoiled for options, and car companies offer an embarrassment of riches when it comes to different vehicles for you to choose from. Maybe BMW will be primarily an SUV brand in another decade, but things would have to massively change for them to abandon models like the 3 Series and 4 Series completely. Just keep driving what you like and enjoy the fact that you have so many different options to choose from these days.
