BMW XM Reportedly Facing Discontinuation Amid Weak Demand

BMW’s flagship M model, the XM, is reportedly on the chopping block as weak demand threatens its future. The plug-in hybrid SUV, which has sold just 7,608 units globally in 2025, is the slowest-selling BMW model, with even the discontinued Z4 roadster outselling it. Demand in the first half of 2025 dropped by 22.4 percent to 2,816 units compared to the same period last year. The XM’s struggles are particularly acute in China, where it was expected to account for 23 percent of sales but has seen demand slip by 4.9 percent in 2025 to just 1,878 vehicles. The United States, projected to be its largest market at 26 percent, has also underperformed. Despite its high price, the XM was never expected to be a volume seller, but the numbers are now so low that the dedicated M model is at risk of discontinuation. There are no signs of a facelift or a second-generation model, which is unusual for a four-year-old vehicle. Typically, BMW would have already released spy photos of a facelifted prototype, but none have surfaced, suggesting the automaker may skip mid-cycle revisions for the XM. The XM shares its CLAR platform and plug-in hybrid V8 setup with the M5 models, and the non-U.S. XM 50e uses an inline-six PHEV setup. However, its niche appeal and poor sales may make a successor unlikely. BMW has already discontinued the Z4 and 8 Series, and the i4 is being phased out to make way for the new i3 sedan. Rumors suggest the iX may also be at risk as BMW reshapes its lineup with models like the upcoming iX5 and iX7. The XM’s uncertain future highlights BMW’s broader struggles in China, where sales are declining across the board. While the XM may soldier on for a few more years, its lack of a planned facelift or Neue Klasse update could make it feel increasingly outdated as BMW’s lineup undergoes rapid transformation.