For many years, “quattro” was nearly synonymous with all-wheel drive in Germany. Audi’s branding was so sturdy that many drivers assumed it led the premium market in AWD share. However by 2025, that title belongs to BMW. In keeping with the most recent information from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), cited by BimmerTodayBMW has not solely overtaken Audi but in addition pulled forward of Mercedes with a transparent margin.
Between January and August 2025, 54.5 % of all BMWs registered in Germany had been outfitted with xDrive. Audi, regardless of its heritage on this area, trails with a share of fifty.7 %, whereas Mercedes sits additional again at 44.7 %. In absolute phrases, BMW’s lead is even clearer. New registrations with xDrive totaled 88,472 models in Germany by way of August, giving the model a cushion of round 12,000 extra automobiles than Mercedes and greater than 22,000 forward of Audi.
BMW Reclaimed Their 2022 and 2023 Market Share
This altering panorama shouldn’t be completely new. BMW already edged out each Audi and Mercedes in all-wheel drive share throughout 2022 and 2023, earlier than Audi briefly reclaimed the crown in 2024. Now, BMW has returned to the highest in convincing style.
The automobiles driving this success are primarily the model’s compact SUVs. The X1 and its electrical sibling, the ix1are the most important contributors, adopted intently by the brand new 5 Sequence and its i5 electrical variant, in addition to the new G45 X3. Collectively, these fashions illustrate the sturdy buyer urge for food for SUVs and electrified sedans in Germany, serving to BMW construct and keep momentum. Mercedes, in the meantime, continues to path and has by no means managed to push its all-wheel drive share above the 50 % mark. Audi, as soon as seen because the unshakable chief on this self-discipline, is now taking part in catch-up.
xDrive vs. quattro vs. 4Matic
Beneath the headline numbers lies one other layer of complexity. The methods marketed as xDrive, quattro, 4Matic or 4Matic+ usually are not equivalent. BMW clients can select between front-driven and rear-driven platforms relying on their automobiles, with the xDrive setup in a 3 Sequence or 5 Sequence behaving very in another way from the system in an X1. Audi additionally makes use of various options throughout its lineup, from front-biased drivetrains in smaller automobiles to rear-biased variations in bigger sedans and SUVs. Mercedes, too, adapts its methods to the platform, with 4Matic+ reserved for high-performance AMG fashions.
Electrical automobiles add one other twist to the story, since putting in a second electrical motor on the unused axle creates a type of all-wheel drive by default. This has made automobiles just like the iX1 and i5 particularly important for BMW, as they naturally enhance the model’s AWD share whereas becoming into broader electrification targets.
