BMW Tops the Premium Segment Also in Hungary

The premium segment is a strong and stable segment of the Hungarian new car market, and BMW Group Hungary has taken the lead with sales of 5,921 units in 2023, the company said at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.

Managing Director Zoltán Gombos said that among the group's brands, BMW's sales reached 5,243 units, while MINI contributed 678 cars to the result. A year earlier, the brand importer reported sales of 5,267 vehicles (BMW: 4,785 units; MINI: 482 units).

According to the Hungarian Association of Motor Vehicle Importers (MGE), 107,720 new passenger cars were registered in Hungary in 2023, 3.4 percent fewer than a year earlier, of which the premium segment accounted for 17 percent.

The Managing Director stated that the strengthening of the BMW brand is the result of a balanced global strategy, whereby the range is dominated by sporty, innovative performance models with rich design elements that emphasize the driving experience, and the manufacturer is also expanding its electric and plug-in hybrid offerings. This strategy will continue in the coming year, he said.

He pointed out that the share of pure electric models in sales of the two brands grew strongly last year, by 68% to 926 units, reaching 15.6%. This was in line with the global figure of 15% in 2023.

Zoltán Gombos recalled that the group's target is for 20% of its vehicles sold globally to be electric by 2024, with the proportion rising to 50% by 2030.

The Managing Director said that the Neue Klasse concept will open a new chapter in BMW's history, redefining electrification through the use of a highly efficient powertrain, resource-efficient production and the extensive use of secondary raw materials. Production of Neue Klasse models will start in 2025 at the Debrecen plant.