BMW has already reported record sales in the United States for 2025, with 388,897 vehicles sold. Those sales were driven by the X3 and X5, which each sold over 76,000 units. But BMW’s strong 2025 wasn’t limited to the United States or its core luxury models. The high-performance M division has shared its global sales figures for last year, and it achieved its 14th consecutive record year. The automaker sold 213,457 M models globally last year, surpassing competitors in the process and demonstrating that BMW remains a benchmark brand for enthusiasts.
BMW M Outsells Rivals Once Again
2026 BMW M2 CS BMW
BMW’s 2025 sales of M models were up by 3% over 2024, and the brand says it outsold competitors for the seventh consecutive year. While not all rivals have reported sales of performance models, we know that Mercedes-AMG hit 145,000 sales last year, so BMW M’s 213,457 units is easily ahead. We must point out that BMW combines true M car sales (like the M3 and M4) with sales of “M-lite” variants, or M Performance models, such as the X3 M50. Mercedes-AMG did not provide a detailed breakdown of how individual AMG models performed sales-wise.
“Our 14th consecutive sales record validates our strategy. We will continue to offer performance and high-performance vehicles across the entire BMW model range. With fully electric, partly electric and all-ICE powertrains,” says Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH.
Almost one in every 10 BMWs sold in 2025 was an M variant; these performance models had a share of 9.8% within BMW’s range, another milestone, up from 9.4% previously. In Switzerland, BMW M models are especially popular, with almost every fourth BMW sold there being an M model. The United States was BMW M’s largest single market, with over 72,000 vehicles sold in 2025.
An SUV Is Now BMW M’s Top-Selling Model
BMW
BMW says the X3 M50 was its best-selling individual model, without specifying exactly how many units of the SUV were sold. Although not a replacement for the full-fat X3 M (a new X3 M should be on the way at some stage), the X3 M50 is still a serious performer. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine produces 393 horsepower, enabling a 4.4-second sprint time from zero to 60 mph. With its performance in 2025, the X3 M50 overtakes the i4 M60 as the best-selling BMW M product.
BMW says the M5 and M5 Touring saw “enormous sales increases” in their first full year on sale. The M2 was the best-selling high-performance model—this group includes only full-fat M cars. The M3 family was another significant contributor to M car sales, buoyed by new additions like the M3 CS Touring, which is sadly not sold in the United States.
Related: BMW’s New M3 CS Touring Is the Fastest Wagon Ever Around the Nürburgring
Final Thoughts
BMW
BMW M has had its fair share of criticism in recent years. The XM was universally panned for its brash design and for being a poor choice as the only modern standalone M car. The new M5s are brilliant, but their plug-in hybrid powertrains have added an enormous amount of weight. And, lower in the lineup, the new M2 CS sadly doesn’t come with a manual.
But despite all of this, the M division is still going strong. A larger and larger percentage of all BMWs sold now come with an M badge on the back, and the range still includes a few key ingredients that BMW fans worship: Rear-wheel drive, the availability of a manual, and the presence of potent six-cylinder and V8 engines.
