AMG plans: to catch up with BMW M by 2030
Mercedes-AMG has ambitious growth plans and aims to get closer to BMW’s M brand’s annual sales. Achieving this will not be easy, and it requires launching a series of new models that should greatly interest car enthusiasts.
Last year, Mercedes’ sports division sold approximately 145,000 vehicles worldwide, while BMW’s M brand sold just over 213,000. AMG presented its plan to reach 200,000 annual sales by 2030 at a recent investment presentation in Los Angeles. To achieve this, the company will launch over 27 new models over the next 36 months.
“Our plan is definitely to grow,” Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Schiebe told Auto News. “We have made many, very many decisions. All products are now in development, and you just need to stay tuned, because we will launch over 27 cars solely for Mercedes-AMG over the next 36 months.”
Electric vehicles and the V8
One of the brand’s newest models is the fully electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door. It is equipped with three advanced axial electric motors, develops up to 1,163 hp, and will compete with the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. Sales of both of these competitors have been relatively limited, and the same can likely be expected of the new AMG GT 4-Door. It will be followed by a fully electric SUV. More important for the brand are its new engines.
The first is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, first introduced in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. We don’t yet know which AMG models will get this engine, but the CLE 63 “Mythos” looks like the first candidate, and there is hope that the C 63 will also receive it. The new track-focused Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and the GT3 race car it will be paired with will operate on the same unit.
Importantly, AMG will not rely solely on this V8, as it is also developing a new six-cylinder engine.
As part of its growth plans, AMG will target expansion in the United States, where more than a third of its current sales occur. The company also aims to increase sales in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Interestingly, AMG’s ambition to achieve 200,000 sales per year by 2030 is quite bold, given the current electric vehicle market, which is growing but still has limited demand for high-performance models. Launching over 27 new models in three years demonstrates the company’s serious intent to refresh its lineup and attract new customers. Particular attention is drawn to the development of the new flat-plane V8, which could become an iconic engine for future models, as well as the parallel work on a six-cylinder engine, indicating a desire to maintain a diversity of powertrains in the era of electrification. The focus on the US market, where a third of all AMG cars are sold, is a logical step to achieve the set goals.