BMW is Willing to Pay to Attract Customers from Other EV Brands

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Tesla might not be the most dominant EV maker in the world, but it’s on top of the market here in the United States. Legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors are in the hunt, but so far, no one has been able to topple Tesla’s top spot. BMW is hoping to take some of the shine off of Tesla’s crown with a new incentive that gives buyers a $1,000 discount to buy one of its new EVs.


Cars Direct reported that the BMW 2024 BEV Conquest Program includes several other brands, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Porsche, Rivian, and Lucid. Ford Mustang Mach-E and VW ID.4 owners can also take advantage of the deal. BMW will pay owners of those brands $1,000 to switch to an i4, i5, or iX, though the discount only applies to specific models from most brands. Importantly, buyers don’t have to trade their current EV in to take advantage of the deal.


BMW already offers a $7,500 credit for leasing the i4 sedan, which can be combined with the conquest incentive. Cars Direct noted that the iX also comes with a significant discount of up to $9,900 in lease cash. That said, BMW’s EVs are not cheap, so the incentives should be a welcome move for hopeful buyers. While not currently eligible for federal tax credits, BMW’s EVs can be leased to receive the $7,500 discount others get.


The German automaker is far from the only one offering discounts and incentives to bolster EV demand. Kia recently announced $5,000 off the brand-new EV9, and General Motors has discounted some of its models that lost federal tax credit eligibility. At the same time, automakers like Ford have reported that hybrid sales are up in recent months, demonstrating that buyers want fuel economy benefits but don’t want to pay the higher price for an all-electric model.


[Image: BMW]


Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 10 comments
  • AZFelix AZFelix on Mar 06, 2024

    This $1000 EV discount coupon is also available in a high-performance version made with weight saving carbon fiber and embossed with an 'M' logo. The exclusive package option is available with any new BMW EV for only $1500 (+tax) .

  • Kcflyer Kcflyer on Mar 06, 2024

    Wouldn't it be cheaper to make them less ugly?

    • Dr Mindbender Dr Mindbender on Mar 07, 2024

      LOLOLOL that's one of the funniest/truest comments I've read.


  • JK Savoy Blue is a thing, but Sestriere White? Sestriere is a ski town near Turin, so I guess it meant to conjure up thoughts of snow. Pretty car. I hope Pininfarina has success. The industry in and around Turin has taken a big hit and is a shadow of its former self.
  • Ravenuer My 2023 CRV EX, 6 mo old, 4800 miles: $0.
  • TheEndlessEnigma My '16 FiST: Oil changes, tires, valve cover gasket (at 112k miles), coolant flush, brakes.....and that's itMy '19 Grand Caravan: Oil changes, coolant flush
  • John Clyne I own a 1997 GMC Suburban that I bought second hand. It was never smoked in but had lost the new car smell when I got it four years after it was sold new. I own a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche & that still has the new car smell. I like the smell. I could never afford a new car until the Avalanche. It might be my last new car? Why do they build cars with fire retardant materials in them. Smoking rates are falling & if someone continues to smoke in this day & age is a fool especially with all the information out there.
  • Theflyersfan Non-performance models, probably the Civic based on the fact the interior feels and looks better in the Honda. Both of them are going to drive like adequate appliances with small engines and CVTs and get decent mileage, so this is based on where my butt will rest and things my hands and fingers will touch.Toyota doesn't have an answer to the Civic Si so the Honda wins by default.CTR vs GR Corolla. One dealer by me is still tacking on $10,000 markups for the CTR and good luck with the GR Corolla and the "allocation" system. There's that one dealer in Missouri that I pasted their ad a while back wanting $125,000 for a mid-level GR. Nope. But cars.com is still showing markups. Both of these cars will have little depreciation for a while, so the markups equal instant loss. It looks like Cincinnati-area dealers are done with CTR markups. So this is a tough choice. I don't like the Corolla interior. It looks and feels inexpensive. I'm glad Honda toned down the exterior but the excessive wing still looks immature for such an expensive car that 20-somethings likely cannot afford. FWD vs AWD. With price being an object, and long-term maintenance a thing, I'd go with the Honda with a side eye at the Golf R as a mature choice. All with stick shifts.
Next