Lexus outsold BMW and Mercedes-Benz in February in the race for the best selling luxury brand in the United States.
Deliveries rose 0.4 percent from a year earlier to 23,090 for Lexus while sliding 2.9 percent to 22,941 for Mercedes-Benz and declining 11 percent to 22,498 for BMW. Lexus’ lead was amplified by an 18 percent increase in SUV sales.
BMW truck sales, led by the X1 crossover, bumped up 7 percent while car sales deteriorated 19 percent. MINI brand sales decreased 24 percent.
Audi managed another U.S. monthly sales record in February, extending its streak to 62 months, according to a statement. Audi deliveries rose 2.3 percent to 11,718, including a 63 percent jump for the Q7 SUV.
The premium segment is showing a bit of weakness. Total premium brand sales rose just 0.5% last month and they are down 1.5% for the first two months of the year.
Crossovers and SUVs continue to blossom. Year-to-date (YTD) market share has grown to 38.5% of total sales, 2.2 points more than the same period in 2015.
