Although BMW Motorrad’s 2022 unit sales increase was decidedly modest, a premium-priced model mix made sure the money was right. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Annual revenue from the BMW Group motorcycle division achieved 15.6% growth to £2.795bn. Resultant operating profit grew by 13.2% to £226m. However, operating margin declined slightly, from 8.3% to 8.1%. Pre-tax profit was significantly better, though, 18% up to £237m. Favourable pricing and product mix got the credit, despite higher materials and logistics costs.
Full-year global retail sales volume expanded by a relatively timid 4.4% to 202,895 motorcycles and maxiscooters. Dual impact from semiconductor supply issues and the Covid pandemic took the blame. Nevertheless, the headline tally was a new all-time record.
Deliveries to customers in European markets fell by a marginal 0.3% to 110,788 bikes. German domestic sales topped the pile on 24,129. But that represented a 7.1% loss. Conversely, French riders bought 21,223, a 6.7% rise. Italy was 2.3% down to 15,668 and Spain copped a minor 0.9% retreat to 12,502. According to BDN data, UK sales for the brand sank by 3.8% to 8679.
Transatlantic performance was brighter, totalling a 14.4% improvement to 45,775. Within that, the USA put on 10.4% to 17,690 and Brazil added 17% to 13,051. Elsewhere, Chinese bikers swerved around strict zero-Covid lockdown measures to buy 15,404 — 7.7% more than in the previous year.
Highlights of BMW Motorrad’s year featured only two completely new models. Billed as a “new chapter in two-wheeled urban mobility”, the CE 04 electric scooter appeared in March. Hugely over-priced, it has since sold in pathetic quantities. And a roadster version of the M1000 superbike was subsequently unveiled. All the rest were revisions — upgrades for a trio of six-cylinder K1600 tourers, four-cylinder S1000RR and M1000RR superbikes, and boxer twin R1250R roadster and R1250RS sports models. Centenary editions of the RnineT and R18 boxer twins are also in the offing for 2023.
While BMW Group executive chairman Oliver Zipse banged on extensively about electrification in his 343-page annual report to shareholders, references to the role for motorcycles were vague and tangential. Synthetic fuels for carbon-neutral internal combustion applications didn’t earn a mention and the closest we got was a nod to “ensuring emissions limits without excluding individual drive-train technologies and vehicle concepts…”
Zipse’s sole referral to bikes was: “BMW Motorrad will celebrate its centenary this year [2023] with a raft of amazing new models,” he enthused. “I can already reveal that this will also include several for those who prefer an all-electric ride.”
€-£ currency translation at forex rates applicable on 15 March.