After a drop in global sales, the last example of the BMW Z4 left the assembly line and marks the end of a cycle that began in the 1990s
Recently, BMW officially ended production of the Z4, interrupting a 31-year trajectory in which the German manufacturer uninterruptedly kept a roadster in its global catalog. The last unit of the current generation left the assembly line of partner Magna Steyr, in Graz, Austria, without the brand having confirmed a direct successor to the model in the short term.
The movement was already anticipated by the market and was preceded by the launch of the special series “Pure Impulse”, which brought the model the “Handschalter” package (manual transmission), aimed at purists. The end of production marks BMW’s absence from the two-seater convertible segment for the first time since 1995, the year the Z3 was introduced to succeed the Z1’s short-cycle cycle.
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To make the current generation economically viable, BMW has established a strategic partnership with Toyota, sharing development and component costs. The collaboration gave rise to both the Z4 and the Toyota GR Supra — the latter equipped with the 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine, capable of delivering 340 hp and 51,0 kgfm. However, the fate of the Japanese cousin should be the same: production of the Supra is expected to end in 2026.
While the union between the brands has generated resistance among traditional enthusiasts, the decision to discontinue the model is based on market metrics. The commercial peak of the Z4 occurred in 2019, with 15,827 units sold. Since then, the volume has progressively dropped, registering 9,744 copies in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, only 2,555 units were sold globally.
So far, BMW has not detailed plans for an electric or hybrid replacement, leaving the segment vacant. Historically, the brand has faced similar hiatuses, such as the four-year gap between the end of the Z1 and the debut of the Z3, suggesting that, although the current cycle ends, the roadster concept may eventually return under new technological guidelines.
