BMW is selling more EVs than Audi and Mercedes COMBINED – here’s why
We already know that BMW closed off 2024 with a banner year for its electrified “i” models – but it took a while for the larger picture to become clear. Not only is BMW succeeding with EVs, the Bavarians are outselling their two closest competitors combined. (!)
First things first – we need to look at the numbers: BMW sold delivered 368,523 units to customers globally, representing a nearly 12% growth in EV deliveries for the brand year-over-year (YoY). Perhaps more EVs made up fully 16.7% of the brand’s 2,200,217 unit total for 2024.
Arch-rival Mercedes-Benz, despite their highly publicized EQ branding and bespoke electric vehicle platforms, could only move 185,059 of its lozenge-shaped EQ models in 2024 (down a staggering 23% from 2023, which could be attributed to the cancellation of several German EV incentive programs if it weren’t for its competitor’s growth).
Over at Audi it’s more of the same, with the four rings brand moving 164,480 EVs in 2024 (7.8% less than the 178,429 units they managed to move in 2023).
Neither of the Bavarians’ German rivals’ EVs cracked 10% of their companies’ overall sales, either – which begs the question: what gives? Are BMW’s electric vehicles really that much better than Audi’s and Mercedes’, or is something else driving the Ultimate Driving Machines’ successful growth in the electric vehicle segment?
BMW is setting, exceeding expectations
The 2025 US Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study from J.D. Power tells us that more people are more satisfied with their EV experience than last year – and (in the US, at least) the EV owners who are the most satisfied with their rides can be found behind the wheel of the BMW iX, followed closely by the BMW i4.
The reason BMW is consistently pulling ahead comes down to education. “First-time EV buyers are receiving minimal education or training,” explains Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. “Dealer and manufacturer representatives play the crucial role of front-line educators, but when it comes to EVs, the specific education needed to shorten the learning curve just isn’t happening often enough. The shortfall in buyer education is something we’re seeing with all brands.”
When an average car buyer is told, “this car can add 200 miles of range in 20 minutes” by an enthusiastic salesperson, they’ll expect that to be the case whenever they connect to a public charging station. And why wouldn’t they? If their entire fueling experience has been with gasoline, it’s highly unlikely that they’ve every thought about kW or kWh or amps or volts or what any of those things have to do with one another.
BMW dealers fully explain these things as part of their standard delivery practice through the company’s Genius program. Cunningly cribbed from Apple’s Genius Bar playbook, BMW (and, by extension, Mini) offers the best EV customer training in the car business. “With that in mind,” I wrote, when BMW’s second consecutive J.D. Power win came to light, “it’s hard to imagine this going down any other way.”
This advice applies everywhere
I stand by that, but what do you think? Is this a question of customer service, are BMW’s new EVs really the best in the business, or is Audi’s “expensive Volkswagen” business model simply not viable in 2025? Scroll down to the comments and let us know what you think makes the electrified BMW’s the Ultimate Selling Machines.
On your way there, check out a few of these great deals on new BMW EVs:
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President Donald Trump is urging oil producers to “drill, baby, drill.” U.S. oil and gas investors may not be on board with the plan.
“Right now, with low oil prices, I think we’re going to start to see a lot of companies starting to pare back on their capital spending,” said Clark Williams-Derry, an energy finance analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
The U.S. is already producing more crude oil than any other nation in history. In December 2024, U.S. oil and gas firms produced more than 13.49 million barrels of crude per day. That’s an all-time high rate of production, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration records.
High rates of production tend to lower prices, which benefits consumers. But if prices drop too far, affecting producers’ profits, they may stop drilling.
Most Americans see oil prices reflected in the price they pay per gallon at gas stations. The retail price of gasoline fluctuates based on seasonal trends and other factors. On March 24, 2025, the nationwide average price of regular unleaded gasoline was about $3.10 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data. That is far below the highest-ever nationwide average price of over $5 per gallon, in June 2022, according to GasBuddy data.
U.S. gasoline prices are expected to fall by 11 cents in 2025 and 19 cents in 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts.
According to the EIA, crude oil prices in the U.S. accounted for about 52.6% of the average retail price of gasoline in 2023, the most recent data available.
The future trajectory of crude oil prices is a key concern for investors in the oil and gas industry.
On March 24, 2025, the spot price of the U.S. benchmark for crude oil, West Texas Intermediate, was hovering below $70 a barrel. Analysts at S&P Global Commodity Insights expect WTI to average $66 per barrel in 2025.
Crude oil prices, January 2025 to today.
Lower prices for oil affect the profitability of oil and gas businesses, which must sell on global markets.
Producers surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in March 2024 reported they would need to sell oil at “breakeven” prices of about $64 a barrel in order to make a profit from drilling new wells.
“This is a real challenge to get oil prices at a level that producers are comfortable with, but also that consumers can live with,” said Williams-Derry.
Watch the video above to learn more about Trump’s second-term energy policies
Environment
Hyundai Insteroid EV will be like the Inster on steroids: Here’s our first look at the ‘dream car’
Hyundai will unveil the so-called “dream car” as soon as next week. The Insteroid EV takes Hyundai’s low-cost Inster electric SUV to the next level, almost like it’s on “Steroids.” Here’s our first look at the upcoming EV concept.
Hyundai teases upcoming Insteroid EV concept
We had a feeling it was coming soon. Earlier this month, a Hyundai trademark filing for the name “Insteroid” was discovered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
Now, it’s official. On Tuesday, Hyundai dropped a teaser for the new Insteroid EV, giving us our first look at the sporty concept.
The Insteroid is based on the Inster EV, Hyundai’s compact electric SUV that’s already a hot seller in Europe and Korea.
According to Hyundai, the name is a combination of Inster and Steroid, hinting at the vehicle’s “funky, youthful, and muscular nature.” The concept is loaded with “fun details” inside and out, from the instrument cluster to the rear spoiler.
You can see a few design elements in the teaser, like 21-inch wheels, massive wheel arches, and a rear spoiler, give it that Steroid-like feel Hyundai is going for. And don’t forget the brand’s signature Pixel LED headlights.
Hyundai will unveil the Insteroid EV early next month (or next week). It’s expected to make an official debut at the Seoul Mobility Show, starting next week on April 4.
The Inster EV is available in Europe in two battery sizes, 42 kWh or 49 kWh, with a “segment-leading” WLTP driving range of up to 370 km (230 mi). It starts at around €23,900 ($25,000) in Europe.
At just 3,825 mm (150.6″) long, 1,610 mm (63.4″) wide, and 1,575 mm (62″) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,580 mm (101.5″), Hyundai’s INSTER EV is even smaller than the Kia EV3.
Earlier this year, Hyundai launched the “Inster EV Cross,” an outdoor-ready trim starting at £28,745 ($35,000) in the UK.
Although it’s just a concept, the Insteroid could preview a larger, more powerful trim coming soon. Check back for the full details as early as next week.
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After £220 million financing raise to fund its 400/800 MW battery energy storage project in Eccles, Zenobē investment in Scotland reaches the £750 million mark – one of the largest BESS investments in all of Europe (so far).
The funding for the 400/800 MW site was provided by a group of lenders organized by National Westminster Bank and KKR Capital Markets Partners LLP. The Eccles BESS project is the final part of the development firm’s £750 million total investment in Scotland.
Other Scottish Zenobē projects include Blackhillock BESS, a 200 MW/400 MWh project located near Inverness that recently began commercial operations and is set to expand to 300 MW/600 MW later this year. The Blackhillock site is currently the largest operational BESS project in Europe, and also the first transmission connected battery system in the world to deliver stability services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO), and was also the first project delivered under the Network Options Assessment (NOA) Stability Pathfinder programme.
“Whilst the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been engaging positively with the sector, we need to move faster,” explains James Basden, co-founder and director of Zenobē. “It is vital that NESO, Ofgem and the government work together to update Britain’s energy market to treat batteries fairly. A modernized approach will ensure that the entire BESS industry can continue to build and invest in Britain at speed.”
Zenobē’s 300 MW/600 MW Kilamarnoch South battery project is set to go live in 2026, and will operate alongside Zenobē’s 50 MW/100 MWh Wishaw BESS, which is currently operational. Together, the projects offer a total energy capacity over 1 GW.
Electrek’s Take
Here in the US, Zenobē is best known as a sort of 3PL, operating school bus fleets in several school districts throughout the country. There’s more to them though – between developing utility-scale BESS projects and Second Life solutions for EV batteries, the company is doing a great job helping other companies achieve their ESG goals.
As the company continues to expand throughout Europe, Australia, and SE Asia (and, of course, North America) there will surely be more to come. Watch this space.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Zenobē; via Solar Power Portal.
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