3 Minutes
BMW M breaks sales record as petrol power remains popular
BMW's M division recorded a 7.9% increase in global sales in the first nine months of 2025, setting a new landmark for the performance arm. The uptick builds on last year's momentum — when M sold 206,582 vehicles — and underlines the brand's ability to balance traditional high-rev petrol engines with a growing electric performance portfolio.
Why petrol engines still matter for enthusiasts
BMW credits much of this rise to models powered by roaring V8s and characterful six-cylinder petrol engines. Even as hybrids and full-electric cars gain share across the industry, demand for visceral internal-combustion performance remains strong among driving enthusiasts who prioritize sound, throttle response, and track-capable dynamics.
Key takeaways:
- M models with V8 and inline-six petrol engines remain top sellers.
- The brand's SUV lineup — especially X3 M, X4 M and XM — is a major growth engine.
- BMW says it will continue offering petrol, hybrid and electric M cars while customer demand exists.
SUVs and icons: who’s fueling the growth?
A large portion of the sales increase comes from M-badged SUVs. The X3 M, X4 M and the flagship XM attract buyers who want everyday usability without compromising on peak performance. Meanwhile, long-standing icons like the M3 and M5 have retained their appeal, though BMW expects their architecture and powertrains to evolve as electrification progresses.
"Performance and emotion remain core to M," BMW executives have said. "We will expand electric performance, but petrol-driven models still play a key role while customers want them."
Product strategy and naming changes
This record year coincides with a clearer product strategy and a simplified naming approach. BMW is streamlining the M naming hierarchy and appears to be phasing out or consolidating the 'Competition' suffix in favor of cleaner, more consistent model names. The move aims to make the lineup easier to navigate as electrified M models increase.
Electrification: ZA0 and BMW’s 'technology-neutral' promise
BMW M is already working on its first fully electric M sedan, codenamed ZA0. The project targets performance that matches or exceeds current petrol counterparts — a sign that the division wants to ensure EVs deliver the same driver-focused experience.
BMW refers to this approach as "technology neutral": offering petrol, hybrid and electric M models in parallel as long as customer demand exists. That stance has helped M remain profitable and resilient during the industry’s transition toward zero-emission powertrains.
Highlights:
- ZA0: first pure-electric M sedan in development
- SUVs (X3 M, X4 M, XM) are major volume contributors
- Iconic M3 and M5 expected to evolve with electrification
BMW M’s 7.9% growth is a reminder that, even in an era pushing for efficiency and lower emissions, performance and driving excitement remain sought-after commodities. For buyers and enthusiasts, the future promises a wider menu of high-performance options — from turbocharged V8s and inline-six engines to track-capable EVs designed to raise the bar for acceleration, handling and everyday usability.
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