Global sales of BMW i, iPerformance and electrified Mini vehicles totalled 50,711 in the first seven months of the year (up 74.8% on the same period last year), making the BMW Group the third biggest battery-electric/plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer.

The BMW Group now has a total of nine electric vehicles (EVs) on the market and the i3 has been the best-selling compact battery-electric vehicle in the premium segment worldwide since 2014.

Overall, the Group had its best July on record, with sales in the month totalling 180,726 (a 0.4% increase year-on-year). The company also sold more vehicles than ever before in the first seven months of the year with a total of 1,401,551 (+4.3%) vehicles delivered to customers around the world.

“Following a record first half-year, our sales in July remain at a very high level, with profitability our primary focus,” said Ian Robertson, management board member for sales and brand BMW.

“Despite continuing headwinds in the USA, as well as the model changeover of the BMW X3 and the BMW 5 Series in China, we were still able to achieve last year’s high sales levels, due to our policy of balanced global sales growth. Sales of our electrified vehicles continue to develop extremely well, with all nine of our electrified cars playing their role in this success.”

However, sales in Europe were down 1.5% in July (with sales of 78,615). Sales in the UK in July were down by 8.8% compared with the previous year at 13,110. Sales in Europe and in the UK were slightly up in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year at +1.7% and  +1.1 respectively.