BMW Buyers Turned To Plug-In Hybrids As EV Demand Softened In 2025

The German automaker sold 30% more PHEVs in the U.S. last year, helping it achieve a new all-time record in overall sales.

2026 BMW iX First Drive

Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs

Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Jan 6, at 3:44am ET

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BMW’s EV sales in the United States faltered in 2025.
The German company sold 16.7% fewer EVs last year than in 2024.
Plug-in hybrids, on the other hand, had a strong year, with U.S. sales going up 30.7%.

BMW posted a new all-time sales record in the United States in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of record sales here. But the German carmaker’s success in America lies more on the shoulders of its gas-powered and plug-in hybrid models, and less on its EVs.

Last year, BMW sold 388,897 cars in the United States, an uptick of 4.7% over 2024 and a nice present for the marque’s 50th anniversary here. On the electric car front, however, things are not looking great, with sales of all BMW EVs going in the red.

The BMW i7 was the slowest-selling EV in the company's portfolio, with 2,905 units finding new customers in the U.S. in 2025.

In total, BMW sold 42,484 EVs stateside last year, a decrease of 16.7% year-over-year. Things were particularly bad in the fourth quarter. With the $7,500 federal tax credit no longer available to lessees, BMW sold 7,557 EVs, a 45.5% drop year-over-year. The company said that “this result mirrors the broader U.S. market, where BEV demand softened over the course of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter.”

At the same time, however, plug-in hybrids finished the year strong and nearly overtook EVs in the fourth quarter, with 7,141 sales, despite a 25.6% drop in sales compared to the same period in 2024. BMW sold a total of 25,351 PHEVs in the U.S. last year, which amounted to a 30.7% uptick compared to 2024, when 19,398 units were sold.

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BMW U.S. EV Sales in Q4 and Full Year 2025

Model Q4 2025 % Difference from Q4 2024 2025 % Difference from 2024 i4 3,395 -40.8% 20,114 -14.1% i5 987 -67% 6,877 -21.5% i7 466 -50.3% 2,905 -15.3% iX 2,709 -35.7% 12,587 -18.2% Total EV 7,557 -45.5% 42,484 -16.7% Total PHEV 7,141 -25.6% 25,351 +30.7%

“In 2025, we took an important step toward the future with the introduction of the Neue Klasse globally, and now we are looking ahead to the U.S. market launch of the all-new BMW iX3 later this year,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “Whether internal combustion engine, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric, we remain committed to giving our customers the freedom to choose the BMW and drivetrain that best fits their preferences and needs.”

The all-new BMW iX3, which is based on a bespoke EV platform, is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this summer. The German automaker has high hopes for the model’s success here, considering the effort it has put into making it a reality. Positioned as an electric alternative to the X3 crossover, which is the brand’s best-selling model in the U.S., the iX3 promises a driving range of up to 400 miles, 21-minute charging sessions from 10% to 80%, 463 horsepower, and a high-tech interior.

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