BMW is considering adding a new flagship SUV to its line-up that would sit above the X7, the German carmaker has confirmed as part of a wide-ranging product update. The model, which would be closely tailored to the needs of the United States market, would extend a range of Sports Activity Vehicles that has delivered record sales in America for three consecutive years.
BMW sold 388,897 vehicles in the United States last year, a 4.7 per cent increase on the previous year and a third straight annual record. The company said strong demand for its existing SUVs is behind the review, noting that its Plant Spartanburg in North Carolina is already operating at full capacity. BMW added that it is looking for ways to grow global production.
The carmaker provided few technical details about the proposed model, stating only that it would be closely tailored to American buyers. That has left room for interpretation. An X8 has been discussed for almost a decade without reaching production, and a new flagship could also take the form of a more luxurious and exclusive variant, in the mould of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. BMW did not expressly state that the vehicle would be larger than the X7, only that it could sit above the current top-end model.
The move would follow Audi, which earlier this year finally launched the Q9, its long-awaited rival to the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. If BMW proceeds with a model positioned above the X7, it would compete beyond the Q9 in size and price, though the company has not confirmed that outcome.
Beyond the possible flagship, BMW set out a broader product and manufacturing plan. In China, it aims for 95 per cent of the vehicles it sells there to be built locally by 2030, under a streamlined portfolio designed around features that local customers are calling for.
The first all-new model from Alpina since BMW took over the brand is due to launch in the coming year. Few details have been confirmed beyond the fact that it will be based on the 7-Series and positioned between regular BMW models and those from Rolls-Royce.
Europe will receive an all-new electric vehicle in 2028. The model will compete in the high-volume entry segment and will join BMW’s Neue Klasse family, using many of the same technologies as its siblings. BMW also confirmed that the 2-Series Active Tourer will be phased out and will not be replaced.
For BMW, the proposals reflect a balancing act between regional demand and production capacity. The United States remains a crucial market for its largest and most profitable SUVs, while Europe is being prepared for a mass-market electric model and China for deeper localisation. The company has not given a timeline for a decision on the flagship SUV, leaving the X7 as its top model for now.