BMW Group New Zealand is preparing for a busy 2021, especially with the introduction of the fully electric iX3 compact SUV that should see the German brand garner conquests who are keen to ditch their petrol or diesel crossovers.

BMW Group NZ’s managing director, Karol Abrasowicz-Madej, recently addressed motoring media about the plans for 2021 and how its three brands – BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce – fared in 2020.

According to the latest figures published by the New Zealand Motor Industry Association, BMW and Mini registered a cumulative total of 2255 units in 2020, tracking 6.6% lower than 2019 figures but ahead of the 22.5% drop experienced by the industry as a whole and the –13.5% shrink in premium segment registrations. 

The result is topped off by a staggering performance by BMW in December, as registrations jumped 50.6% higher compared to the same period in 2019. 

Abrasowicz-Made said, “2020 has been an extraordinary year for all of us, but we adapted to the times”.

“Our team pivoted our campaigns to boost the spirits of New Zealanders even as we entered lockdown, and further extended our offers to give customers more value,” he said. 

“In addition, we had several new product launches that bolstered our range, and together with the hard work of our team and our valued network of dealerships, we achieved this amazing result”

BMW’s M and M Performance variant sales tracked consistently in 2020, with one in every four BMWs sold in New Zealand carrying high-performance credentials from the M division in Garching. 

The introduction of an all-electric Mini hatchback also proved a success for the brand, with the first shipment sold out before arriving in New Zealand.

“We are grateful to the Mini team and our dealer network, navigating the many uncertainties in 2020 to produce a solid result,” commented Brett Waudby, General Manager of Mini Australia and New Zealand.

“Even more impressive is our 20% electrified sales mix in 2020, making MINI New Zealand a market with one of the highest electrified sales shares in the world – a statistic we are looking to substantially increase this in the coming years.” 

The electric Mini will be joined by the BEV version of the X3 compact SUV, in mid-2021. Prices and specifications of the iX3 to be announced closer to the launch date, but in the UK it cost £61,900 (NZ$118,950). 

BMW Group NZ’s product manager, Tim Michaelson, said the iX3 has a range of 450km and produces 213kW/450Nm and can recharge in 30 minutes at a 50kW public charger. 

The halo electric vehicle for the brand will be the iX that will have a range of 600km and is set to take on the Tesla Model X. It is set to go into production early next year. 

It will be similar in size to the BMW X5.

The brand is also future-proofing itself in New Zealand, especially with the recent change in lockdown levels, with the launch of the all-new BMW Store. 

The BMW Store allows interested customers to reserve a vehicle in just four steps: model selection, paint choice, trim choice, and the preferred dealer. A fully-refundable deposit is paid at the end of a process that takes just moments, and the entire process of purchasing a car can be reduced to just a few days.