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]


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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.

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  • 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.


  • Alan Well, it will take 30 years to fix Nissan up after the Renault Alliance reduced Nissan to a paltry mess.I think Nissan will eventually improve.
  • Alan This will be overpriced for what it offers.I think the "Western" auto manufacturers rip off the consumer with the Thai and Chinese made vehicles.A Chinese made Model 3 in Australia is over $70k AUD(for 1995 $45k USD) which is far more expensive than a similar Chinesium EV of equal or better quality and loaded with goodies.Chinese pickups are $20k to $30k cheaper than Thai built pickups from Ford and the Japanese brands. Who's ripping who off?
  • Alan Years ago Jack Baruth held a "competition" for a piece from the B&B on the oddest pickup story (or something like that). I think 5 people were awarded the prizes.I never received mine, something about being in Australia. If TTAC is global how do you offer prizes to those overseas or are we omitted on the sly from competing?In the end I lost significant respect for Baruth.
  • Alan My view is there are good vehicles from most manufacturers that are worth looking at second hand.I can tell you I don't recommend anything from the Chrysler/Jeep/Fiat/etc gene pool. Toyotas are overly expensive second hand for what they offer, but they seem to be reliable enough.I have a friend who swears by secondhand Subarus and so far he seems to not have had too many issue.As Lou stated many utes, pickups and real SUVs (4x4) seem quite good.
  • 28-Cars-Later So is there some kind of undiagnosed disease where every rando thinks their POS is actually valuable?83K miles Ok.new valve cover gasket.Eh, it happens with age. spark plugsOkay, we probably had to be kewl and put in aftermarket iridium plugs, because EVO.new catalytic converterUh, yeah that's bad at 80Kish. Auto tranny failing. From the ad: the SST fails in one of the following ways:Clutch slip has turned into; multiple codes being thrown, shifting a gear or 2 in manual mode (2-3 or 2-4), and limp mode.Codes include: P2733 P2809 P183D P1871Ok that's really bad. So between this and the cat it suggests to me someone jacked up the car real good hooning it, because EVO, and since its not a Toyota it doesn't respond well to hard abuse over time.$20,000, what? Pesos? Zimbabwe Dollars?Try $2,000 USD pal. You're fracked dude, park it in da hood and leave the keys in it.BONUS: Comment in the ad: GLWS but I highly doubt you get any action on this car what so ever at that price with the SST on its way out. That trans can be $10k + to repair.
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