This was alarming 😲

[Vin0770]

[JerseyM3]

Market ebbs and flows. Nothing to be too concerned about imho

[LuvMyE92]

Just say no to clickbait.

[FrankL]

There is massive turbulence in the auto industry. All the German brands are having a hard time. The energy prices since NordStream 1 and 2 were bombed and Merkel closed nuke power plants really hurt German car companies. The mindless push to EV, almost banning of diesels in the USA. Plus you have China with their EVs (many are junk) and the German car companies getting suckered by China.

Everybody goes there with big money dreams and the Chinese copy everything. BMW is probably in the best position of any European auto/SUV maker. BMW and Toyota said we are going to make ICE, EV, PHEV. The Porsche/VW/Audi management of Piechs, Winterkorn and others is terrible. They blew it on EV and the diesel disaster. It is really sad. The Porsche family needs to try to extricate themselves but the Piechs and Porsches are related to each other. The reliability is bad too. Porsche is the best but their EVs are bad and the parts are astronomical plus USA Porsche dealers are crooks like Ferrari dealers. Audi's reliability is terrible.

Mercedes interiors are the worst. Reliability is not as good as BMW. Stellantis is being run into the ground by John Elkann. He and his familiy got control of Agnelli holdings with a dubious will being contested by the Agnelli family. Elkann is even running Ferrari into the ground.

Jaguar killed themself. Range Rover and Land Rover are still there but have poor reliability. Hopefully, Ineos with their Grenadier using a B58 and B57 in Europe will get more business, The French car industry is probably sick.

So BMW is far from perfect but their strategy is the best of the bunch. BMW also does really well in their X products (SUVs) and M Sport cars. But for the love of God, BMW, please make aluminum valve covers and oil pans.

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by FrankL

There is massive turbulence in the auto industry. All the German brands are having a hard time. The energy prices since NordStream 1 and 2 were bombed and Merkel closed nuke power plants really hurt German car companies. The mindless push to EV, almost banning of diesels in the USA. Plus you have China with their EVs (many are junk) and the German car companies getting suckered by China.

Everybody goes there with big money dreams and the Chinese copy everything. BMW is probably in the best position of any European auto/SUV maker. BMW and Toyota said we are going to make ICE, EV, PHEV. The Porsche/VW/Audi management of Piechs, Winterkorn and others is terrible. They blew it on EV and the diesel disaster. It is really sad. The Porsche family needs to try to extricate themselves but the Piechs and Porsches are related to each other. The reliability is bad too. Porsche is the best but their EVs are bad and the parts are astronomical plus USA Porsche dealers are crooks like Ferrari dealers. Audi's reliability is terrible.

Mercedes interiors are the worst. Reliability is not as good as BMW. Stellantis is being run into the ground by John Elkann. He and his familiy got control of Agnelli holdings with a dubious will being contested by the Agnelli family. Elkann is even running Ferrari into the ground.

Jaguar killed themself. Range Rover and Land Rover are still there but have poor reliability. Hopefully, Ineos with their Grenadier using a B58 and B57 in Europe will get more business, The French car industry is probably sick.

So BMW is far from perfect but their strategy is the best of the bunch. BMW also does really well in their X products (SUVs) and M Sport cars. But for the love of God, BMW, please make aluminum valve covers and oil pans.

Agree here. Somehow China always seems to be a problem. The relentless EV push is hopefully calming down now which ought to help. Consumers have decided that a mix of vehicle types is best and what the people want.

It does feel like BMW is still in a solid spot. M car sales keep going up. The enthusiast market is there and alive. BMW SUVs seem to sell well too.

Porsche royally screwed up and has to recover but I think they can. Mercedes feels like a shell of themselves. The old, reliable tanks they used to build are long gone. Chintzy, unexciting cars is all they got now. Stellantris? Please, LOL. I’d ride a unicycle before I’d touch any of their products.

Audi isn’t doing so well either. They dumped coupes entirely and seemed to have abandoned any actual performance cars. Or, their coolest models aren’t available here. Dunno what they’re doing.

Jaguar? Sigh. Classic company that’s just lost. Their goofball ad campaign a little while back was a joke of epic proportions.

So yeah, BMW is fine but do make better oil pans and valve covers.

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Just say no to clickbait.

Just scanning my Google feed, I see articles about everyday about BMW/Porsche electric vehicles, BMW is failing loyal buyers, BMW is losing money, yada, yada, yada.
I get it. Everytime I see the initials BMW, it gets my attention.

[silvermanor]

Isn't BMW selling 3x what Audi is?

[eliphil]

Welcome to the world of European elites that think they know what’s best for us, what a joke

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Just say no to clickbait.

100% garbage.

The margins sited are inaccurate.
Here is BMW AG data for those who care about the subject matter:
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...el?language=en

Originally Posted by Mikey240

Somehow China always seems to be a problem.

Yep, social media likes convenient boogie-man.
if it's not "blame China", then it's "blame Mexico", or "blame elites".
Simple answers for simple people...

Originally Posted by FrankL

There is massive turbulence in the auto industry.

Yeah, random and stupid tariffs (tax on trade) will do that for ya'.

It too shall pass.

a

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by silvermanor

Isn't BMW selling 3x what Audi is?

I think in many markets it is close to 2 to 1. Globally it used to be Audi, BMW and Mercedes neck and neck. It used to be an insane battle toward the end of each year. BMW would always eke out the win.

Audi appears to still be holding up in Germany but globally now they are probably 30% less than BMW. Mercedes is still close to BMW. Mercedes heavy trucks have always been the golden goose for Mercedes. The sales number for big trucks are not included but it protects MB from any downturns. MB designs and interiors are pretty awful.

Oliver Zipse is retiring as CEO and I think he did a very good job. I liked him in the BMW Christmas party commercial with Bah Humbug Christoph Walz. Walz pulls up to the BMW factory in a mint 3.0 CS.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by silvermanor

Isn't BMW selling 3x what Audi is?

US 2026 auto sales:
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2026-u...rand-rankings/

[silvermanor]

https://www.bmwblog.com/2026/04/13/b...sales-q1-2026/

Ouch...

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by silvermanor

https://www.bmwblog.com/2026/04/13/b...sales-q1-2026/

Ouch...

Wow. In the USA it is 3 to 1.. Almost sad. Audi reliability is not good. MB reliability is not that great and the interiors are awful. Another reason why I wish BMW would get rid of the plastic valve covers and oil pans.

In the USA, the Toyota-Lexus twin turbo V-6 engines are terrible. Reliability issues are awful, underpowered and poor gas mileage. Mega Toy-Lexus fanboy owners are noticing. They get a bad engine then they will be looking for a new home.

The point is that BMW could be the luxury and reliability champ. They are just about there. Toyo-Lexus stuff is almost as expensive as BMW. In some cases more expensive.

[Retumbo]

AI slop...