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While working on the new 2 Series line, German automaker BMW could stop offering the 1 Series in the United States. Don’t panic now, we’re talking about the next-generation model, which still is a few years away.
Speaking to Car&Driver, BMW’s head of product planning and strategy for North America explained that the decision could depend on how rival premium compact cars from Mercedes-Benz and Audi perform in the market.
“Where we have the 1 Series close to the 3 Series in terms of the price ladder, what Mercedes and Audi are doing is giving more focus in the below $30,000 price range. We’re going to watch that and in the future - well, the battleground has now moved to this $30,000 price point. We’re working hard to take advantage of that market,” said Paul Ferraiolo.
Another reason that may lead to the 1 Series being dropped in the United States could have something to do with the vehicle’s low sales. According to the same source, more 3 Series have been sold in the past seven months than 1 Series since its US introduction.
Moreover, the second-generation F20 1 Series has been kept out of the US for pricing reasons, the car being to expensive to be shipped over the Pond from European assembly lines. All told, the first-generation 1 Series may very well be the last iteration of the vehicle sold Stateside. The BMW 1 Series is rivaled by the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Audi A3 in the US.
Story via Car&Driver
“Where we have the 1 Series close to the 3 Series in terms of the price ladder, what Mercedes and Audi are doing is giving more focus in the below $30,000 price range. We’re going to watch that and in the future - well, the battleground has now moved to this $30,000 price point. We’re working hard to take advantage of that market,” said Paul Ferraiolo.
Another reason that may lead to the 1 Series being dropped in the United States could have something to do with the vehicle’s low sales. According to the same source, more 3 Series have been sold in the past seven months than 1 Series since its US introduction.
Moreover, the second-generation F20 1 Series has been kept out of the US for pricing reasons, the car being to expensive to be shipped over the Pond from European assembly lines. All told, the first-generation 1 Series may very well be the last iteration of the vehicle sold Stateside. The BMW 1 Series is rivaled by the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Audi A3 in the US.
Story via Car&Driver
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