The BMW XM offers a delightful driving experience, boasting exceptional handling for a large SUV, along with a superb interior. Despite its strikingly unattractive design, the BMW XM is a plug-in hybrid with a starting price exceeding $150,000. Apparently, BMW shares the sentiment that this may be a challenging sell. According to Automotive News, BMW has decided not to introduce a successor to the XM, and production is expected to cease in a couple of years.
Initial plans to replace the plug-in hybrid XM with a fully electric model have been scrapped. The XM is now slated to halt production in November 2028. The reasons for this change in strategy by BMW remain unclear, but it’s likely that sales did not meet the company’s expectations, especially given its significantly higher price compared to the X5 M Competition, despite being a tad slower to reach 60 mph – unless you opt for the $185,000 XM Label Red variant.
Furthermore, the report indicates the return of the 6 Series to the lineup, featuring both coupe and convertible variants. Like many other BMW models, the 6 Series is rumored to be available in gas, hybrid, and fully electric versions. While the timeline for its U.S. arrival remains uncertain, production is set to commence in July 2026. This schedule coincides with the anticipated end of production for the 8 Series in mid-2026.
An anonymous dealer, as mentioned in AutoNews, expressed the view that BMW may not achieve high sales volume for these models. Nevertheless, they emphasized the importance of offering niche vehicles alongside mainstream cars, stating, “Mainstream cars are popular, but we should have the niche cars as well. BMW is trying to align with customer preferences.”
