That's despite a drop in sales over the year.
In 2022 they fell almost 5% with Europe and China hard hit by supply chain troubles.
Deliveries in the U.S. were more stable though, and sales of electric vehicles more than doubled.
Sales at its ultra-luxury Rolls-Royce brand also hit a record.
All that was just enough to keep BMW in the lead over Mercedes.
It sold just over 2 million vehicles during 2022.
That was slightly down on a year before, though orders picked up strongly in the fourth quarter.
Sales of its high-end Maybach vehicles surged by more than a third.
Entry-level vehicles were hit hard, however, as they were the worst affected by supply-chain bottlenecks.
Tuesday (January 10) also saw a cautious outlook from Volkswagen.
It says 2023 looks volatile, though worries over part supplies are easing.
VW says SUVs remain the fastest-growing segment, accounting for 80% of all sales in the U.S.
That includes the Bentayga models made by luxury unit Bentley, which also posted record sales.
