BMW counts on new models to keep U.S. premium-sales crownMay 20, 2013 06:01 CET  Mercedes-Benz led the U.S. premium-brand sales race through April of 2013, but BMW of North America CEO Ludwig Willisch expects BMW to repeat as No. 1 for the year. Willisch says help is on the way in the form of three models debuting later this year: the 3-series GT crossover, 4-series coupe and a redesigned X5 crossover.... Read More »
Porsche says 918 Spyder will influence future modelsMay 16, 2013 13:21 CET  Porsche's says its 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, which begins production in September, will have a big influence on the automaker's sports cars of the future.... Read More »
Revamped Mercedes S class strives to set new luxury mark 2:00 pm U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  Mercedes-Benz is heralding the redesigned 2014 S class as a flagship that will set new benchmarks for luxury sedans with its packaging of technology, safety gear and opulence.... Read More »
Audi sales in China exceed BMW, Mercedes on demand for SUVsMay 14, 2013 11:04 CET  Audi saw the fastest sales growth among German premium marques in China last month after deliveries rose 13 percent to 38,710 vehicles in China and Hong Kong, the company said today. BMW, the world's largest premium automaker, reported an 11 percent gain in core-brand sales to 30,311 units, while Mercedes-Benz said brand sales increased 11 percent to 16,241 units.... Read More »
Mercedes extends U.S. luxury lead over BMW in April 2:03 pm U.S. ET | May 1, 2013  Mercedes-Benz extended its lead over BMW in the U.S. luxury sales race, with a 5.8 percent gain in April. Sales for the Mercedes brand rose to 23,635 in April, led by gains for the C-class sedan and M-class SUV. The BMW brand posted a 10 percent increase in April to 23,225, the company said today in a statement.... Read More »
Mercedes extends U.S. luxury lead over BMW in AprilMay 1, 2013 20:03 CET  Mercedes-Benz extended its lead over BMW in the U.S. luxury sales race, with a 5.8 percent gain in April. Sales for the Mercedes brand rose to 23,635 in April, led by gains for the C-class sedan and M-class SUV. The BMW brand posted a 10 percent increase in April to 23,225, the company said today in a statement.... Read More »
Nissan names ex-BMW China exec to head local Infiniti operationsMay 1, 2013 06:01 CET  Nissan has named Daniel Kirchert, a former BMW executive in China, to head its luxury brand Infiniti in the country, as it seeks to expand production and dealerships in the world's biggest auto market.... Read More »
Daimler lowers 2013 profit goal after first-quarter earnings drop 56%April 24, 2013 08:19 CET  Daimler cut its 2013 profit forecast after its quarterly earnings fell 56 percent, burdened by Europe's slump and weaker Mercedes-Benz sales in China.... Read More »
Mercedes, BMW, Audi chase young, female, frugal customers in IndiaApril 23, 2013 12:11 CET  In an effort to raise stuttering sales in India that far lag emerging Asian rival China, Mercedes, Audi and BMW are targeting young and female buyers outside the ultra-rich classes with small locally made cars.... Read More »
Volvo CEO says making S-class rival would contradict brand's imageApril 22, 2013 10:29 CET  Volvo won't develop a sedan to challenge the BMW 7 series, Mercedes S class and Audi A8 as it doesn't fit the carmaker's green image or the demands of its customers, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said.... Read More »
2013 SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW Mercedes hits reset on China after sales drive faltersApril 22, 2013 08:34 CET  Mercedes is accelerating its dealer expansion in China, streamlining sales and bringing out a number of new or revamped models in a bid to to fix past mistakes in the market that have contributed to a growing gap with premium rivals BMW and Audi.... Read More »
2013 SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW Porsche vies with new Maserati as China grabs luxury limelightApril 22, 2013 06:01 CET Porsche has debuted a revamped version of its Panamera coupe at the Shanghai auto show where it sought to outshine Maserati's all-new Ghibli as both carmakers seek to attract customers in a luxury China market that is predicted to keep growing strongly.... Read More »
Maserati Ghibli tests Fiat's push into luxuryApril 19, 2013 20:53 CET  The Ghibli is an early test of Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne's efforts to squeeze more cash out of the Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands. Maserati faces a difficult balancing act to emulate the success of BMW, Daimler and Audi by rolling out more affordable models aimed at a broader client base.... Read More »
Fiat will add second shift at Maserati factory, report saysApril 19, 2013 09:03 CET  Fiat will add a second shift at the Turin factory where it builds Maserati cars, a source said. Fiat is investing 1.2 billion euros in the luxury marque as it seeks to boost global sales from 6,000 last year to 50,000.... Read More »
YANG JIAN Global brands are taking more control of China sales 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 15, 2013  When global automakers entered China, they had no idea how to sell their products here. To play it safe, they let managers from their Chinese joint venture partners oversee sales. Several years ago, they started to take control of sales. Lately, this trend has accelerated Yang Jian is managing editor of Automotive News China.... Read More »
Mercedes counts on CLA to regain luxury crownApril 13, 2013 06:01 CET  Daimler's effort to reclaim the crown of world's largest luxury carmaker is looking a lot like the 1980s with the Mercedes CLA compact that harkens back to the 190 'Baby Benz' sedan. The new model is designed to broaden the brand's appeal, especially in the United States and China.... Read More »
NEW PRODUCT Ghibli will be Maserati's first diesel-powered carApril 9, 2013 12:44 CET  Maserati released images of the Ghibli four-door sedan ahead of the car's debut at the Shanghai auto show. The Ghibli will be the first Maserati production car to offer a diesel variant.... Read More »
SALES BMW widens luxury-car lead over Audi as Mercedes gains momentumApril 9, 2013 13:15 CET  BMW widened its luxury-auto sales lead over Audi last month on demand for the 3-series sedan and X1 SUV, while the Mercedes brand gained momentum with new small cars.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Mercedes leads in luxury -- but it's early 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 8, 2013  In the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz jumped past BMW to hold an early lead in the 2013 U.S. luxury sales chase. But in March BMW outsold Mercedes by 2,432 units. So the luxury race this year is just warming up.... Read More »
For Cadillac, early signs of another renaissance 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 6, 2013  At his Houston Cadillac store last weekend, Carl Sewell had an unusual experience: He helped a mother secure a baby seat into a car she was considering. Young-shopper sightings were once a rarity for Sewell. Behind the new ATS sedan, which is helping draw a new type of buyer, Cadillac posted a 49 percent rise in sales last month.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Audi CEO Stadler counts on SUVs to topple BMW as luxury leaderApril 3, 2013 06:01 CET  Audi already knows how it feels to be global No. 1 in premium-car sales. The brand led in that category in January before falling back to second place behind BMW in February. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler plans on get back to the top and stay there by 2020 or sooner.... Read More »
SALES BMW's March advance trims Mercedes lead in U.S. luxury raceApril 3, 2013 06:01 CET  BMW reported a 13 percent U.S. sales increase in March, cutting into the luxury-auto lead of Mercedes as both brands set records for the month.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Race for luxury lead heats upApril 2, 2013 06:01 CET  Audi and Mercedes are both vying to be the world's No. 1 luxury brand as the race heats up to topple BMW from the top position. The three premium giants not only want to lead with the most sales, but also in profitability and with the desirability of their products.... Read More »
BMW's March advance trims Mercedes lead in U.S. luxury race 3:03 pm U.S. ET | April 2, 2013  BMW AG reported a 13 percent U.S. sales increase in March, cutting into the luxury-auto lead of Mercedes-Benz as both brands set records for the month.... Read More »
Luxury big 3 fight for sales, prestige, profits 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013  The race to become the world's No. 1 luxury brand is heating up as Audi and Mercedes-Benz step up efforts to topple BMW.... Read More »
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