Originally Posted by Wall Street Journal

LONDON -- BMW AG is set to retain its crown as the world's biggest premium car maker by sales in 2006 after its sales figures narrowly bested those of rival Mercedes-Benz in November.

BMW overtook DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes premium brand as the world's leading premium car maker last year as sales of its 3- and 5-series cars raced ahead while Mercedes-Benz was forced to sort out quality problems with some of its models.

Mercedes has staged a comeback this year, driven by sales of its revamped B-Class, M-Class and flagship S-Class models, but BMW still has managed to stay ahead.

BMW Group yesterday posted a 0.3% rise in global deliveries in November to 114,321 vehicles. In the first 11 months of the year, deliveries -- which mirror sales -- rose 2.8% to 1.24 million cars. The company said the biggest growth in November was in Asia, led by sales in China.

"This year, in spite of the model changes for the Mini, BMW X5 and BMW 3-Series Coupe, we have set the ambitious goal to achieve a new sales record again. We will meet this goal and thus remain the world's leading supplier of premium automobiles," BMW executive board member Michael Ganal said.

The BMW brand's deliveries rose 2.1% in November to 100,834 cars and posted a 4.9% year-to-date rise to 1.07 million cars.

Late Wednesday, the Mercedes Car Group division reported a 5.3% rise in global car deliveries to 110,800 vehicles in November from 105,200 vehicles last year. From January to November, world-wide deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart brand cars rose 4.8% to a record 1.15 million vehicles.

The premium Mercedes-Benz brand posted a 9% rise in November to 101,900 cars, contributing to an increase of 8.4% in the first 11 months of the year to 1.04 million cars.

Elsewhere in the sector, Volkswagen AG said deliveries of its premium Audi brand rose 8.1% in November to 75,250 vehicles, while 11-month deliveries were up 8.7% to 833,000 cars.

Ralph Weyler, the Audi board member responsible for marketing and sales, said the company aims to sell 900,000 vehicles world-wide, reiterating the company's full-year target, raised from 890,000 last month.

For VW as a whole, sales rose 9.9% from a year earlier in the first 11 months of 2006 to more than 5.2 million vehicles. Europe's biggest car maker by sales said it had matched its sales figure for all of 2005 by the end of November this year and had significantly outpaced the 2.5% growth in the global auto market.

Also yesterday, General Motors Corp.'s European division said sales in November rose 4.8% from a year earlier to 165,842 vehicles, giving it a market share in the region of 9.3%. In the first 11 months of 2006, GM Europe's sales rose by 17,102 vehicles to 1.85 million.

GM said it has sold a record number of cars this year in Russia, a country it has targeted for growth. GM's Russian sales rose 72% to 117,745 vehicles in the first 11 months.

Its premium Saab brand has sold a record number of cars in Europe this year and is on track to set a global sales record in 2006, GM said. Saab's sales in Europe rose 11% to 82,915 cars in the first 11 months and 6% globally to 121,312 vehicles.

Originally Posted by jg95z28

In a completely unrelated story, my 20 year-old stepson purchased a 2001 M3 a few weeks ago. He let me take it for a spin. Damn that is one awesome ride! GM really has their hands full trying to create a product (and image) for Pontiac to compete with that.


flame suit on

Originally Posted by Z28Wilson

Seems the Lexus brand has absolutely no reach outside of the States....

Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville

I'm not sure that Lexus is sold outside of the U.S.

Does anyone know off hand?

Originally Posted by jg95z28

In a completely unrelated story, my 20 year-old stepson purchased a 2001 M3 a few weeks ago. He let me take it for a spin. Damn that is one awesome ride! GM really has their hands full trying to create a product (and image) for Pontiac to compete with that.


flame suit on

Originally Posted by 99SilverSS

Yea I think they are called Toyotas...

Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville

Right...and I guess you see the same lack of difference between a Cadillac and a Chevrolet?

Originally Posted by Z28Wilson

I think what he means is (and it may be only until recently), what we know as a Lexus here is sold in other markets as an upscale Toyota.

Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville

Right...and I guess you see the same lack of difference between a Cadillac and a Chevrolet?

To answer my own question, it does indeed appear the Lexus is now sold in Europe although if I'm reading this article correctly, they've only just started doing so farily recently ( http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...126_mz017.htm).

Originally Posted by 99SilverSS

Well Cadillac and Chevy are both brands of GM. I suppose if GM was a marketing brand like Toyota or Ford I would say yes.

But don't act like Lexus and Toyota, Honda and Acura, or Nissan and Infinity are different. The luxo brands may have some models unique to them but they are all part of the parent company. Some models are even rebadged its not bad or good just the way it is. GM does it with Holden.

Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville

Unless I'm reading the BusinessWeek article incorrectly, Toyota wasn't selling what we know as "Lexus" models as Toyota's in Europe...but I may be wrong.

Originally Posted by jg95z28

Sure they were. One of my buddies in the UK owns a Toyota Soarer. Claims its an awesome car. I told him I hadn't heard of it and he sent me pictures. Over here we call it the Lexus SC.

Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville

Humm...then I wonder why they would change the "name" at this point...would seem to me that would only serve to confuse people (guess that's why I'm not a marketing person).