Automakers love to branch out by separating their performance models from the regular offering. To name just a few: Audi Sport, Mercedes-AMG, Volkswagen R, Hyundai N and the newcomer Magma from Genesis. In the BMW case, things get even more complicated, and you know why. Yes, there is also a lower class of sporty models under the M Performance banner.
When reporting sales figures, BMW M GmbH combines both vehicle types. Sacrilegious, I know. Hardcore fans aren’t thrilled to see an M135i grouped next to an M5 Touring, but that’s what the Bavarians have been doing for many years.
2025 was the 14th consecutive year of growth for the BMW M subsidiary. An impressive 213,457 vehicles of both M variants were delivered to customers. Year-on-year growth was 3%. After three consecutive years at the top, the i4 M50 (renamed i4 M60 in 2025) was dethroned. The X3 M50 took first place in the leaderboard.
While BMW doesn’t break down sales by individual model, we learned that around 71,500 cars were full-fat M models, a new record. The remaining 142,000 vehicles were M Lite models, which outperformed the real Ms by about 2:1. The M2 was the most popular among the M elite, although BMW says the M3 achieved record sales in 2025. Additionally, the M5 models have been described as “key growth drivers” over the last 12 months.
M and M Performance vehicles accounted for 9.8% of total deliveries in 2025, another record. In other words, almost one in ten BMWs sold bore the iconic letter, reflecting the ongoing democratization of the M badge on models like the X1 M35i and M235 Gran Coupe. In Switzerland, almost 25% of all BMW sales came from one of the two M sub-brands.
Regionally, the USA accounted for the lion’s share with more than 72,000 cars delivered. BMW also cites Canada, Germany, Korea, South Africa and the United Kingdom as important markets, while China recorded the largest year-on-year increase.
BMW M isn’t revealing its roadmap for 2026, but we have it on good authority that an M2 xDrive will be launched this year. A new Track Package for the M2 will also be available soon. On the M performance side, the facelift of the 7 Series should bring updates for the M760e and the i7 M70. Additionally, the iX3 M60 could hit the market in the coming months.
On the other hand, we say goodbye to the M850i, M8 and Z4 M40i as both the 8 Series and Z4 are scheduled to go out of production this year.
