BMW’s research and development boss has suggested that the car manufacturer has no plans to launch a range-topping 9-Series luxury car that would sit above the current 7- and 8-Series.

Talking to Autocar, Klaus Frölich suggested that there’s simply no need for BMW to build a 9-Series to join the X7, 7-Series and 8-Series in its range.

“I don’t think you need a 9-Series. In this segment, you need three cars – an X car, a saloon and an emotional sporty car – and we have them: the X7, 7-Series and 8-Series,” he said, adding that “Some competitors are already reducing the number of cars in this segment because volumes are so low.” 

This statement runs contrary to what BMW design director Adrian van Hooydonk indicated back in August 2018. At the time, van Hooydonk said that BMW wasn’t going to stop with the 8-Series in its family of luxury offerings. He also revealed that the carmaker was already thinking about the vehicles it will build as far out as 2030.

If a 9-Series were to be built, it would likely be an ultra-luxury sedan directly targeted at the Mercedes-Maybach S600. However, with an 8-Series Gran Coupe already in the works to complement the Coupe and Convertible, and with the recently revamped 7-Series, BMW probably doesn’t think there’s any need to offer yet another four-door in this niche.