BMW sales declined 8.4 percent in 2020 due to coronavirus

BMW said it observed an 8.4% decline in vehicle sales in 2020 as the outbreak of coronavirus took its toll and many retail outlets across the world were closed for months.

However, customer demand picked up in the fourth quarter, increasing 3.2% year-on-year, BMW said on Tuesday.

“We succeeded in concluding the year with a strong fourth quarter and once again we lead the premium segment worldwide,” said Pieter Nota the BMW board member, in a statement.

Overall, the Munich-headquartered company sold 2,324,809 vehicles last year. In Europe, 2020 sales were down 15.7%, and in the United States 18%.

In China, where the coronavirus pandemic started and where it was brought under control faster than elsewhere, 2020 sales bucked the trend and boosted by 7.4%.