BMW leads Audi, Mercedes 2011 global sales

BMW Group comes at the top of the premium market May 2011. Munich-based automaker topped rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz, selling 121,168 cars worldwide in May, a rise of 19 percent over 2010 figures. Audi continues its ascending sales path with 19.5 percent increase (113,400 cars), ahead of Mercedes-Benz, whose May sales grew 7.3 percent to 108,766 units.
The butter and bread for BMW in May sales were the new 5 Series Sedan and the Spartanburg-built X3 Sports Activity Vehicle. In total, BMW Group, including the BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, sold 147,563 units in May, a rise of 21.1 percent.
For the first five months of this year, BMW sold 555,429 units (19.2 percent increase over last year), ahead of Audi’s 17.5 percent rise to 535,400 cars. Mercedes’ sales grew 10.5 percent to 490,021 through five months of 2011.
one of the world’s fastest growing luxury markets, BMW’s sales jumped 51.1 percent – 21, 150 cars. Audi continues to be the leader on the Chinese market with 25, 153 vehicles, a 44.6 percent increase. Mercedes is trailing with 16,401 cars in May, or 43.1 percent increase from the year before.
Japanese carmakers reeled from output disruptions following the quake with Lexus reporting 45 percent decrease in sales and a long-wait at local dealerships.
In the United States, BMW maintains the lead in May 2011 sales with 20, 651 units. Mercedes follows closely with 18,886 cars1.8 per cent more than a year earlier. Deliveries for the first five months of the year rose 13 per cent to 92,068 vehicles, to lead Mercedes’ 90,274 sales and the 77,237 deliveries by Lexus.