Mercedes is Top Premium Automaker in US in 2013

Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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is the top premium automaker in the US for the first time since 1999. Mercedes sold 312,534 cars in the 2013 calendar year in the US, up 14% from the previous year. Its nearest competitor was BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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with 309,280 sales, up 9.9% from the previous year.

"The volume is a validation of what we are doing in the marketplace and what we are doing with our dealers and our focus on customer experience," said Steve Cannon, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO.

Mercedes launched three major products in the US in 2013 – the CLAMercedes-Benz CLA-Class Gen.1Germany, 2013 > present63 versions
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, S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class 6Germany, 2014 > present39 versions
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and refreshed E-ClassMercedes-Benz E-Class Gen.5Germany, 2009 > present345 versions
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. The S-Class and E-Class outsold their competitors the BMW 7 SeriesBMW 7 Series Gen.5Germany, 2009 > present50 versions
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and 5 SeriesBMW 5 Series Gen.6 [F10]Germany, 2010 > 2016180 versions
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in the US.

"We were so close, it was OK -- it was less than 1 percent in the end," said Ludwig Willisch, BMW of North America CEO.

Still, 2013 was a new sales record for BMW and smashed the previous record of 293,795 cars sold in 2007.

Lexus was in a distant third of America’s top premium automakers. It sold 273,847 cars in the US in 2013, up 12%, but December was its single best sales month in the last seven years, which could point to growth in 2014.

All three automakers will continue their competition in 2014. Mercedes will debut the new C-ClassMercedes-Benz C-Class 5Germany, 2014 > present95 versions
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as the North American International Auto Show. BMW will debut the M3BMW M3Germany, 2014 > present/M4BMW M4Germany, 2013 > present and 2 SeriesBMW 2 SeriesGermany, 2013 > present100 versions
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at the show. Lexus is debuting the RCLexus RCJapan, 2014 > present15 versions
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-F in Detroit.

Source: Automotive News