USA Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

First taking the BAM brands out of the equation, how are things shaping up in the US? From 2010 to 2016, sales were up 45%. Now individually: Lexus +44% Cadillac +16% Acura +21% Infiniti +34% Lincoln +30% JLR +132% (LR 132% Jag 134%) Volvo 53% Porsche 114%. Tesla and Alfa Romeo are new.

Year	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Total	1,195,210	1,163,004	1,051,238	1,009,844	912,780	805,287	824,246
Lexus	331,228	344,601	311,389	273,847	244,166	198,552	229,329
Cadillac	170,006	175,267	170,750	182,543	149,782	152,389	146,925
Acura	161,360	177,165	167,843	165,436	156,216	123,299	133,606
Infiniti	138,293	133,498	117,330	116,455	119,877	98,461	103,411
Lincoln	111,724	101,227	94,474	81,694	82,150	85,643	85,828
JLR	105,104	85,048	67,238	66,962	55,675	50,375	45,204
Land Rov	73,861	70,582	51,465	50,010	43,664	38,099	31,864
Jaguar	31,243	14,466	15,773	16,952	12,011	12,276	13,340
Volvo	82,724	70,047	56,366	61,233	68,117	67,240	53,948
Porsche	54,280	51,756	47,007	42,323	35,043	29,023	25,320
Tesla	39,975	23,732	18,750	19,351	1,754	305	675
Alfa Rom	516	663	91	-	-	-	-

Summary: JLR brands and Porsche grew the most but from a small sales base in 2010. The larger makes were below the average increase.

                                                   **********************

Now adding the other brands to the BAM marques, how do things stack up? Total sales growth goes to 51%, due to the BAM brands increasing 60%. The 'Others' took 58% in 2010, 53% in 2014 but have come back to nearly 56% in 2016.

Year	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Total	2,145,168	2,142,720	1,985,235	1,878,037	1,694,736	1,490,035	1,416,576
Others	1,195,210	1,163,004	1,051,238	1,009,844	912,780	805,287	824,246
M Benz	374,541	372,977	356,136	334,350	295,063	261,769	224,944
BMW Gp	365,204	404,537	395,850	375,782	347,583	305,418	265,757
BMW	313,174	346,023	339,738	309,280	281,460	247,907	220,113
Mini	52,030	58,514	56,112	66,502	66,123	57,511	45,644
Audi	210,213	202,202	182,011	158,061	139,310	117,561	101,629

Summary: The BAM trio were taking more and more of the premium pie but recently the others have come back a little. I pick this trend of the 'Others' growing will continue, albeit slowly. Mercedes overtook the BMW Group in 2016. The three biggest in 2016 are 1) Mercedes, 2) BMW & Mini 3) Lexus.

Text source: RayCee.