Why Was the BMW 6 Series Discontinued?
4 Answers
BMW 6 Series overall sales were not strong to begin with. According to survey data released by the automotive industry statistics agency CarSalesBase, 60% of the sales were contributed by the Gran-Coupe four-door coupe model. This series belongs to the coupe category, which inherently targets a niche consumer base that prioritizes sports performance. Additional details are as follows: Displacement: The entire BMW 6 Series lineup uses a 2.0T turbocharged engine, so the displacement of this car is 2.0T. This engine has a maximum power output of 190 kW, a maximum torque of 400 Nm, a maximum power speed range of 5,000 to 6,500 rpm, and a maximum torque speed range of 1,550 to 4,400 rpm. Interior: The mid-cycle facelift of the 6 Series did not undergo major layout changes, only some configuration adjustments. Powertrain: The mid-cycle facelift 6 Series in the domestic market still comes equipped with the 2.0T engine across the entire lineup.
I remember when the BMW 6 Series was discontinued a few years ago, I also pondered the reasons. The main issue was the sluggish market sales—nowadays, everyone is rushing to buy SUVs, like the X Series, which offers much stronger practicality. Coupe models like the 6 Series fall short in terms of space and functionality. As someone who has driven the 6 Series a few times, I suspect BMW’s executives saw this trend and decisively adjusted their product lineup, shifting resources to the 8 Series, which is positioned at a higher price point and has broader appeal. At the same time, the automotive industry’s shift toward electrification accelerated, making the older 6 Series platform costly to maintain and slow to update. It made more sense to save resources for launching new electric models. This decision was quite pragmatic—under the dual pressures of sales and costs, discontinuation was an inevitable outcome.
From an automotive industry perspective, the discontinuation of the BMW 6 Series is hardly surprising. Sales figures had been declining sharply even before 2019, dropping by nearly half compared to previous years, as market demand shifted towards SUVs and electric vehicles. The company needed to optimize its production lines, and the 6 Series occupied an awkward position between the 5 Series and 7 Series. The newly launched 8 Series directly filled that high-end niche upon its debut. From a cost-benefit standpoint, discontinuing older models saves significant R&D and maintenance expenses, allowing resources to be redirected towards popular models or electrification. Such strategic adjustments are quite common—automakers follow the money, and in my observation, this decision is entirely rational.
My friend has a 6 Series, and he said it's a shame it's discontinued, but from a practical standpoint, it makes sense. SUVs and larger models are more popular, and the design of the 6 Series Coupe has lost some appeal in modern driving conditions. BMW likely made the decision after evaluating sales, prioritizing resources for high-demand models. This kind of change isn't uncommon.
