Nicolas Peter, chairman of BMW's supervisory board, said on Thursday that the Chinese automobile market - the world's largest - can accommodate automakers that are not locally based. Peter characterized the market as having space for non-Chinese brands, reiterating BMW's view of China as a major market with room for international competitors.
Peter also addressed BMW's position in the United States, calling the U.S. market both stable and important for the German manufacturer. He said the company remains confident in its prospects there, framing the U.S. as a steady component of BMW's global market mix.
Turning to Europe, Peter noted a notable imbalance between production and sales. He said BMW currently produces more vehicles in Europe than it sells in the region, even after pursuing a local strategy for its European operations. That mismatch highlights a regional operational dynamic where manufacturing output exceeds local demand.
Looking further ahead, Peter offered a projection for electrification in Europe. He estimated that electric vehicles could represent between 50% and 60% of the European automotive market on average by 2035. The projection was presented as a forward-looking expectation rather than a guaranteed outcome.
The comments from BMW's supervisory board chairman covered three distinct geographic markets - China, the United States, and Europe - and touched on market capacity, demand stability, production balance, and the potential trajectory of electric-vehicle adoption. The statements did not include additional quantitative detail or accompanying financial guidance.
Context and implications
- China: Market size remains the largest globally and, according to BMW's chairman, can host non-domestic automakers alongside local manufacturers.
- United States: BMW views the U.S. market as stable and strategically important for the company.
- Europe: There is currently a production-sales gap, with manufacturing outpacing regional sales despite BMW's local strategy. This suggests an operational imbalance within the European market.
Peter's outlook also included a mid-term electrification estimate for Europe, with EVs potentially reaching 50% to 60% of the market by 2035. The projection was described as an expectation rather than an observed fact.