Is BMW really Thailand’s favourite car?

When Thai people have money to spend, they choose BMW

Jon WhitmanPublished: 12:12, 21 January 2023| Updated: 15:58, 10 February 2023

2,548 1 minute read

BMW is Thailand’s favourite car marque. It might not be the best-selling vehicle, but when Thai people have plenty of money to spend, they choose BMW.

The company saw growth in registrations across its range, driven by last year’s marketing initiatives.

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BMW and Mini have led Thailand’s premium market for the past three years. Both have seen an increase in their market share, rising to 47% in the premium market with 15,000 vehicles registered (13,500 BMW and 1,500 Mini) up 36% last year.

Alexander Baraka, CEO of BMW Thailand, said…

“We are constantly committed to moving our business forward and staying at the forefront of Thailand’s premium automotive segment. We are pleased to see that our commitment to producing the most innovative products and offering exceptional customer experiences throughout 2022 is paying off. Despite the continuing challenges last year, we, together with our BMW and MINI dealer partners, have proven time and time again that we can master challenging economic conditions, emerging even stronger than before for the benefit of our customers.”

The brand push for greater sustainability is proving popular, reflected in the highest market segment share of 41% of the premium BEV market, increasing five-fold from the previous year.

All Models | BMW Motorrad — BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR

BMW Motorrad – the brand’s motorcycle arm – has also done well with its highest sales ever. Over 200,000 motorcycles and scooters were delivered worldwide. In Thailand, more than 10% of motorcycles above 500cc were BMWs. Growth in the electric motorcycle segment was driven by the BMW CE 04 which was launched last year.

Jon Whitman

Jon Whitman is a seasoned journalist and author who has been living and working in Asia for more than two decades. Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Jon has been at the forefront of some of the most important stories coming out of China in the past decade. After a long and successful career in East sia, Jon is now semi-retired and living in the Outer Hebrides. He continues to write and is an avid traveller and photographer, documenting his experiences across the world.