BMW Motorrad->ke1398 has been around for 90 years and yet, it has never had a sales period quite like the one it had in the first quarter of 2015. Sales of BMW Motorrad bikes flew like hot pancakes in the period from January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015, resulting in the best quarterly sales run the company has had in history.

In the first three months of the year, BMW Motorrad reported selling 31,370 bikes and scooters, 9.2 percent better than the 28,719 units it sold in the same period last year. March is usually one of the biggest sales months of BMW Motorrad’s sales calendar and this year’s haul was no different as BMW sold 15,912 units for the month, more than half of the company’s quarterly total. That number also represents a 4.8-percent increase compared to the 15,183 units sold in March 2014.

BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing Heiner Faust commented that the company’s record-setting sales growth covered all corners of the world. Southern Europe saw the biggest sales increase, particularly Portugal and Spain where the company’s sales numbers grew 46 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

As far as overall volume is concerned, BMW Motorrad’s home market of Germany led the way with 5,369 units sold, followed by the USA (3,229 units), France (3,155 units), Italy (2,936 units), and Great Britain.

Of all of BMW’s bikes, the R1200GS->ke2112 and R1200GS Adventure continued their reign atop the sales perch, accounting for a third of the company’s sales total with more than 10,000 units sold in the first quarter of the year. Not surprisingly, another R1200 variant - the R1200RT, earned the third step on the podium with 2,681 units sold, followed closely by the S1000RR with 2,574 units sold.

Continue reading to read more about BMW Motorrad's best sales quarter of all time.

Why it matters

My initial reaction upon finding out that BMW Motorrad just had its most successful sales quarter was a combination of confusion and bewilderment. BMW hasn’t posted a better sales quarter than January-March 2015? Also, the company has been around for 90 years?

While time doesn’t wait for anyone, it appears that time makes an exception for quarterly sales records. All joking aside, I’m happy that BMW is generating this much success selling its motorcycles and scooters. It goes to show that the motorcycle industry, as a whole, is as healthy as it’s ever been. More importantly, BMW Motorrad is becoming a bigger part of the business as more and more customers are buying its products.

Whether its motorcycles like the R1200GS or its line of Maxi scooters, BMW Motorrad is making a positive impression on a lot of customers, enough at least for it to see its sales numbers continue to trend up.

Now I don’t expect to see the day when BMW motorcycles can match the sales volume of its car division but with the way the motorcycle brand is gaining popularity among consumers, there will come a day when it will be able to stand on its own two wheels and shed its “little brother” label completely.

I can’t wait for that day to come because that would mean that the motorcycle industry is going to be as healthy as it’s ever been.