In 2017, the Mercedes-Benz brand delivered 2 289 344 vehicles globally, while the BMW brand managed 2 088 283, making the Stuttgart-based automaker the best-selling premium brand for the second consecutive year, this time by some 201 061 units.
But now BMW CEO Harald Krüger has set his team a deadline of 2020 to snatch back the sales crown from Mercedes, with plenty of new products soon to be added to the brand’s arsenal.
“In 2020, we will be the number one in terms of unit sales again,” Krüger told German publication Manager Magazin, according to Motor1. “I am holding my team to that target, even if it won’t be a walk in the park.
“It’s not enough just to be in the lead when it comes to sales. Being a quality leader, number one in customer satisfaction – that’s what our employees have to be excited about,” he added.
The Munich-based brand’s upcoming model offensive will include the new i8 Roadster, the yet-to-be-revealed 8 Series Coupé (including an M8) and the forthcoming flagship X7. A new X4 is also on the cards along with the all-important next-generation 3 Series (likely in 2019), while the automaker has furthermore pledged to continue electrifying its standard models, even promising to launch a fully electric X3 in 2020.
Earlier, the BMW Group (which includes sales from the Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands) pointed out that it sold more vehicles overall in 2017 than Mercedes-Benz Cars (which includes Smart).
