The era of pure roadsters is coming to an end: The last BMW Z4 has left the assembly line in Austria
An important chapter in the modern history of the Bavarian brand is finally closing. Production of the iconic BMW Z4 roadster has officially come to an end. The last example of the two-seater convertible has left the assembly line at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria, leaving behind a legacy spanning over two decades and a gap in the purebred sports car segment that will be hard to fill.
Chronicle of an End Announced: From the "Final Edition" to the Last Lap of the Track
Signs of the final retirement were evident as early as last spring, when the Munich-based manufacturer publicly suggested that the model's days were numbered. To bid farewell to fans in style, BMW announced a special version at the end of last year, suggestively called the Final Edition.
This farewell edition was made available to customers for a limited time, starting in January of this year. It was the last cry of a collector's model before a spokesperson for the German brand officially confirmed what car enthusiasts were hoping to avoid: production of the Z4 had ended for good.
A 24-year history and the numbers behind the decline
The story of the Z4 name began in 2002, when the model was given the difficult task of succeeding the legendary Z3. Over three generations, the roadster defined pure driving pleasure with the roof down. The current (third) generation was presented in 2018, but its commercial success was short-lived, reflecting a drastic change in preferences in the global automotive market.
The evolution of sales in recent years speaks for itself:
- 2019 (Peak of the generation): 15,827 units sold worldwide, just one year after launch.
- Last year (Decline): Only 9,744 units delivered globally, a significant drop that sealed the model's fate.
What's next? Only one convertible left in the range
For fans of convertibles in BMW's portfolio, the news is not exactly optimistic. At the moment, the Bavarian manufacturer is not giving any indication about the development of a direct successor to the Z4.
This strategic decision leaves the open-top segment much poorer. With the retirement of the two-seater roadster, the only retractable-roof option left in the German brand's portfolio is the BMW 4 Series Convertible.
With the end of production at Magna Steyr, the BMW Z4 is officially history. It remains to be seen whether the transformations in the automotive industry will ever bring the spirit of the letter "Z" back to the forefront. Until then, enthusiasts will have to look for the excitement of this roadster in the market for existing models.