BMW Says No X1 For U.S. Until End Of 2012

Suzanne Kane

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1,294 views May 3, 2011

2011 BMW X3

2012 BMW X1 X1 xDrive28i

BMW aficionados waiting for the X1 luxury compact crossover to arrive here will have to wait a year longer.

That’s according to a report in Automotive News quoting Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America, who said the reason is strong demand in the U.S. for the larger and redesigned BMW X3.

Sales of the X1 are also selling so well outside the U.S., and with supplies tight as it is, it doesn’t make sense to bring X1 here as early as the company originally had planned. Initially, BMW thought to introduce the X1 to the States early in 2011, and then delayed the launch until late in the year. Now, the German automaker has pushed the X1 debut here until late in 2012.

Apparently, BMW’s not hurting by delaying the X1, with O’Donnell commenting the X1 “was always going to be a niche vehicle,” with anticipated U.S. annual sales of around 5,000.

As for the redesigned X3, which went on sale in January, it’s doing quite well in attracting buyers, selling 5,710 units in the first quarter (January through March) and 7,987 through April. Total X3 sales in 2010 were only 6,075. O’Donnell says further that X3 sales in the U.S. could reach 25,000 this year.

Built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the new X3 is nearly as large as the original X5.

For more information on the 2011 BMW X3, see this review in TheCarConnection.

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[Automotive News]

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 BMW X3