BMW M GmbH, the high-performance arm of the German luxury car brand, is betting big on electrification. BMW already has two electric cars with the M badge on sale: the i4 M50 and the iX M60. Two more EVs will join the lineup this year in the form of the i7 M70 and i5 M60. BMW expects sales of electric M vehicles to outstrip those of its internal combustion engine vehicles by 2028, as the M-badged EV lineup rapidly grows, according to Bimmer Today. Additionally, BMW reportedly believes that sales of electrified M vehicles, including battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), will surpass sales of ICE models as early as 2027.
The report notes that BMW M boss Frank van Meer made the announcement during a presentation of the M2 and XM. The automaker reportedly showed a chart revealing how the OEM expects EV sales to develop through 2030. The automaker expects sales of all-electric and plug-in hybrid BMW M models to fall below 20% by 2023, while they experience a rapid surge in sales over the next five years, surpassing sales of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2027, by which time The latter will fall below 50%.
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BMW M also expects that BEVs will continue to grow at a significantly faster rate than PHEVs through 2028, at which point they will account for more than 50% of total sales, while ICEs account for less than a third. It also predicts that by 2030, the proportion of BMW M vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines will be only about 10 percent.
One thing to note, however, is that current EVs bearing the M badge are not full-fledged BMW M models. However, expect a model to be launched in the next few years that will perform like a full-fledged BMW M car and will draw power from a purely electric powertrain. The German automaker is already testing a widebody i4 M50-based prototype with a four-motor AWD powertrain, with each wheel driven by an electric motor. The EV will serve as the flagship of BMW M and is expected to deliver up to 1,341 horsepower.
BMW M is also expected to bring all-electric iterations of its major models, such as the M3 and M4. This will be based on the much-hyped Neue Klasse platform. Additionally, the successor to the BMW M2 is expected to be fully electrified sometime in 2030.
First published date: Mar 21, 2023 at 08:37 AM CST
https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/electric-vehicles/bmw-betting-big-on-battery-electric-m-cars-hopes-bevs-to-outsell-ices-in-2028-41679366613573.html