--- title: "2023’s Best-Selling BMW M Car Was the i4 M50 EV" description: "Even though the all-electric BMW i4 M50 isn't a real M car, BMW says it was the best-selling M car for 2023." date: "2024-01-14" modified: "2024-01-14" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023s-best-selling-bmw-m-car-was-the-i4-m50-ev" categories: - "BMW News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "BMW" - "Electric Vehicle" - "i4" --- # 2023’s Best-Selling BMW M Car Was the i4 M50 EV ![]() *BMW* Fans of BMW M, shield your eyes, I'm about to say something that's going to sting—the best-selling M car of 2023, according to BMW, was the electric [i4 M50](). There are a few reasons why this news will have the BMW faithful shaking their heads, least of all is the fact that more customers are buying an electric sedan over the M3. Though, it isn't all bad news. First, let's start with how BMW not only measures M Division sales but also how it presents them. For the past couple of years, BMW has boasted about record-setting M car sales, citing impressive year-over-year sales increases. However, that's because BMW now includes M Performance cars—such as the [M340i]() and its new sales darling, the i4 M50—despite the fact that they aren't actually M cars. Instead, they're normal BMWs that have been "tuned" by the M Division but anyone that's driven any M Performance car knows that it ain't the same thing. ![]() **BMW i4 M50 | BMW** BMW also doesn't publish specific sales figures, so we have know idea exactly how many i4 M50s sold, nor do we know the specific sales figures of any other M cars. All we know is that the electric M Performance car outperformed cars like the legendary BMW M3 and the new [BMW M2]() on the sales sheet. This isn't entirely new, though, as the i4 M50 outsold every other M car in 2022 as well. I wonder if BMW includes the i4 M50 in its M sales so it isn't as embarrassing when it sells better than the M3. Don't take this as i4 M50 slander, though. It might lack the precision or tacticlity of what you'd expect from an M car but it's fast, fun to drive, and comfortable enough to live with everyday. Its range isn't great compared to some of its competition, with 269 miles to a charge, but it's comparable to entry-level cars from Tesla and Polestar. So the i4 M50 isn't a bad car and BMW fans shouldn't be upset that it's selling well, even if it is frustrating that BMW lumps it in with proper M cars. ![]() **These are real M cars | BMW** If anything, it should be encouraging for the inevitable electric future of BMW M. An all-electric BMW M3 is on the horizon and when it gets here it should be even more impressive than the best-selling i4 and customers will evidently be willing to put their money down for it. So as eye-rolling as it might be for BMW to say that the i4 M50 is the best-selling M car, since it isn't an M car, it's encouraging that customers are buying it. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()