BMW, 5 Series Racing Ahead... Number One in Imported Car Sales

BMW maintained its position as the top-selling brand in the new year, led by the new 5 Series. Launched in October last year, the BMW 5 Series is considered a model that contributed to BMW becoming the number one imported car brand last year by enhancing its appeal specifically for Korean consumers.

According to the new registration data from the Korea Imported Automobile Association on the 7th, the 5 Series sold 1,126 units last month, making it the best-selling imported car model overall. BMW sold 4,330 units last month, ranking as the top imported car brand, with the 5 Series accounting for more than a quarter of those sales.

The 5 Series sold a total of 21,411 units last year. BMW Korea was the first in the world to launch the new 5 Series in Korea in October last year. Within three months of its domestic release, 5,153 units were sold, helping BMW become the number one brand.

BMW 5 Series First Pure Electric Vehicle i5
[Photo by BMW Korea]

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The popularity is attributed to the inclusion of convenience features and advanced functions preferred by domestic consumers as standard across all trims. Features such as a head-up display, adaptive LED headlights, heated seats for all seats, ventilated front seats, as well as driving assistance functions like Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Plus are available.

Released as a fully redesigned model for the first time in six years, the overall product appeal was enhanced while minimizing price increases. The base model 520i is priced at 68.8 million KRW, which is not significantly different from before. In the first quarter of this year, plug-in hybrid models BMW 530e and 530e M Sport will be launched. By the end of the year, a total of 13 trim lineups, including high-performance models, will be available.

Investments for electric vehicle consumers are also being made in various ways. As of the end of last year, BMW Korea owned 1,119 chargers, and with an increase of more than 1,000 units this year, the total will reach 2,100 chargers by the end of the year.

Hansang Yoon, CEO of BMW Korea, said, "Korea is an important market for the BMW Group, to the extent that the new 5 Series was launched here first in the world, which allowed us to minimize the price increase. Based on support from headquarters, we will continue to invest in charging infrastructure so that we can maintain the upward trend this year as well."

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