BMW vs Nissan: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
BMW had ~$150.8B of annual revenue in FY2025 and ~$8.2B of net income. Nissan had ~$80.5B of annual revenue in FY2026 and a net loss of ~$3.6B.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
BMW
BMW's financial story has turned from peak to reset in three years. Revenue reached ~$176 billion (EUR155.5 billion) in 2023 with a 9.8% automotive EBIT margin, then fell to ~$161 billion (EUR142.4 billion) in 2024 and ~$151 billion (EUR133.5 billion) in 2025 as China pricing, tariffs and currency weighed. Group profit before tax still stayed above ~$11.3 billion (EUR10 billion) in 2025 (~$11.6 billion (EUR10.236 billion), 7.7% margin), helped by ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion) of cost cuts and a stable Financial Services business. 2026 is weaker: H1 revenue fell 8.0% to ~$70.4 billion (EUR62.3 billion), Group EBT dropped 29.4% to ~$4.52 billion (EUR4.0 billion), and BMW now guides to a 1-3% automotive EBIT margin and automotive free cash flow above ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion). Shareholder returns continue through a EUR4.40 dividend for 2025 and a ~$2.26 billion (EUR2 billion) buyback due to finish by November 2026. BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) is a leading global luxury automaker, maintaining a market valuation of roughly $70 billion.
Nissan
Revenue peaked at ~$85 billion (¥12.69 trillion) in FY2023 (ended March 2024), with net income of ~$2.86 billion (¥426.6 billion). Then weak U.S. pricing, an ageing lineup and share losses in China hit results. FY2024 revenue was ~$84.6 billion (¥12.63 trillion) with a ~$4.5 billion (¥670.9 billion) net loss, driven by impairments and restructuring charges. FY2025 revenue fell 4.9% to ~$80.4 billion (¥12.0 trillion) and the net loss narrowed to ~$3.57 billion (¥533.1 billion), while operating profit stayed positive at ~$389 million (¥58.0 billion) (0.5% margin). Automotive free cash flow was minus ~$3.22 billion (¥480.8 billion) for the year but turned positive (~$750 million (¥112 billion)) in the second half. Nissan ended FY2025 with ~$7.84 billion (¥1.17 trillion) of automotive net cash and ~$24.1 billion (¥3.6 trillion) of total liquidity, and paid no dividend. In Q1 FY2026 (April to June 2026), revenue rose 9.5% to ~$19.9 billion (¥2.964 trillion) and operating profit was ~$522 million (¥77.9 billion), against a ~$530 million (¥79.1 billion) loss a year earlier. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is a colossal Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer and a core member of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, commanding a market valuation generally exceeding $15 billion.
Revenue and profit by year
BMW
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$150.8B | ~$8.2B | 5.5% | -6.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$160.9B | ~$8.2B | 5.1% | -8.4% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$175.7B | ~$12.8B | 7.3% | +9.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$161.1B | ~$20.3B | 12.6% | +28.2% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$125.7B | ~$14B | 11.1% | +12.4% | Source |
| FY2020 | ~$111.9B | — | — | -5.0% | Source |
| FY2019 | ~$117.8B | — | — | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
BMW
- Automotive
~$133B (EUR117.6B) segment revenue (2025)
Sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars, parts and services; the segment's EBIT margin was 5.3% in 2025.
- Financial Services
~$45B (EUR39.8B) segment revenue (2025)
Leasing, retail loans, dealer financing and insurance; new business volume was ~$74.4B (EUR65.8B) in 2025.
- Motorcycles
~$3.5B (EUR3.1B) segment revenue (2025)
BMW Motorrad bikes, parts and gear; segment EBIT margin was 5.7% in 2025.
Nissan
- Vehicle Core Manufacturing88
Wholesale deliveries of passenger sedans, crossover SUVs, pickup trucks, and EVs through franchised global dealer networks.
- Sales Financing10
Retail auto purchase loans, consumer vehicle leases, and wholesale dealer inventory floorplan financing yields.
- Aftermarket, Software & Licensing2
Distribution of genuine replacement parts, Nismo performance tuning kits, NissanConnect digital subscriptions, and battery recycling.
Business model and strategy
BMW
How it makes money
BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. In 2025 the Automotive segment (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) generated ~$133 billion (EUR117.6 billion) of revenue, Financial Services ~$45 billion (EUR39.8 billion) and Motorcycles ~$3.5 billion (EUR3.1 billion) before intra-group eliminations.
Growth strategy
Under CEO Milan Nedeljković, BMW's growth plan is narrower and more regional. The group will cut variants (the 2 Series Active Tourer gets no successor), add top-end models such as the first BMW ALPINA car in 2027 and a US-focused SAV above the X7, and launch a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028.
Competitive advantage
BMW's advantage rests on brand depth, engineering credibility and a flexible production network. Customers still pay for BMW driving dynamics, M performance models and Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, which supports pricing even when volumes are flat.
Nissan
How it makes money
Nissan makes money in two segments. The automobile business designs, builds and wholesales Nissan, Infiniti and NISMO vehicles (crossovers such as the Rogue/X-Trail, Kicks and Qashqai, sedans such as the Sentra and Altima, pickups such as the Frontier/Navara, and EVs such as the Leaf, Ariya and Sakura) to franchised dealers, and also sells parts.
Growth strategy
Re:Nissan, announced in May 2025, is a restructuring plan before it is a growth plan. It targets ~$3.35 billion (¥500 billion) in fixed and variable cost savings against FY2024, about 20,000 job reductions, and cutting vehicle plants from 17 to 10 by FY2027. Vehicle production at Oppama will end in FY2027 and move to Nissan Motor Kyushu.
Competitive advantage
Nissan's advantage is a global manufacturing footprint and long experience with electric vehicles. It launched the mass-market Leaf in 2010, which gives it more than a decade of data on how batteries perform in everyday use. Its e-POWER system, in which a petrol engine charges the battery and never drives the wheels, offers an option for markets with few EV chargers.
Questions about BMW vs Nissan
Which company has higher revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG had ~$150.8B (FY2025), while Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. had ~$80.5B (FY2026). By latest annual revenue, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is the larger business, with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. showing a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG vs Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's market capitalisation stands at $39.8B, while Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.'s is $7.0B. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd..
How does revenue per employee compare for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG has $976k / employee in revenue per employee, while Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has $670k / employee. Headcounts may use different dates, so the ratio alone does not establish which business operates more efficiently.
How do Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. make money?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG: BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.: Nissan makes money in two segments.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG trades at 0.3x P/S and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. at 0.1x P/S. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Bayerische Motoren Werke AG bigger than Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
By last reported revenue, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (~$150.8B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (~$80.5B (FY2026)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the BMW vs Nissan overview