German premium brands count on EVs, new niches to keep record momentum

FRANKFURT -- As German premium brands brace themselves for the potentially treacherous transition to autonomous, electric and shared vehicles, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz should enjoy the advantage of starting from a position of strength. Buoyant Chinese demand and a continued push into trendy niches with lifestyle-oriented products such as the upcoming BMW X2 crossover should help propel the trio to further growth in 2018.