Daimler AG (DAI)’s Mercedes-Benz regained the U.S. luxury-vehicle sales lead for the year over Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)’s BMW brand with April deliveries rising 24 percent, the biggest gain of any premium brand.
U.S. sales of Mercedes vehicles rose to 22,336 last month while BMW deliveries increased 12 percent to 21,062, according to statements today by the companies. Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)’s Lexus brand fell 0.1 percent to 17,551.
Mercedes and BMW, which overtook Lexus in 2011 to become the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S., are competing for the 2012 sales crown. BMW, based in Munich, finished the first quarter ahead with 36 more deliveries than Mercedes.
April results lifted Mercedes sales for the year 17 percent to 83,849, giving the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker a 1,238 vehicle lead after four months over BMW, which had a sales increase of 16 percent. Lexus deliveries rose 2.6 percent to 66,647 during the first four months of the year.
“I don’t see one of them pulling ahead dramatically,” said Jesse Toprak, an analyst with TrueCar.com, a website that tracks auto sales. “You’re going to see this back-and-fourth for the rest of the year.”
The results exclude Daimler’s Sprinter vans and Smart cars and BMW’s Mini brand, which aren’t luxury vehicles.
Mercedes sales were helped by deliveries of the updated C- Class sedan, up 23 percent, and M-Class sport-utility vehicle, up 54 percent, the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker said in a statement.
SOURCE: bloomberg.com
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