Polk Reports BMW, Mercedes and Lexus Losing Large Luxury Sedan Market Share to Audi, Jaguar and Porsche

In the large luxury sedan stakes, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus have been the long-time leaders. Five years ago, each brand’s flagship model thecollectively owned 82% of the U.S. market and Merc’s offering could claim 30% of that. Between June 2010 and May of this year, however, their collective market
has dwindled some 68% while that of three newer models have grown..
There’s theup 5% and theup 12%. Both of these models could claim next to nothing of the market when they were launched but now look at them. More impressive isthe Porsche Panamera, up 14% despite only being on sale for two years. And all up against the other “Big Three”; companies that in the States, are renowned for their high rates of custom retention and loyalty as well as their immensely profitable and effective dealership networks.One of the reasons for according to Polk, is its six cylinder engine. Withpetrol prices back to their normative riserequirements sucking the profits out ofbig engines, it’s no wonder that 13% of the Panamera’s sales were with that engine. Predictably, both the BMW 7-Series and S-Class also offer six cylinders.