Mercedes-Benz’s registrations rose 11% to 209,309 in June as demand for the new E-Class and the Mercedes SUV ranage helped widen its global luxury-car sales lead over BMW in the first half of the year. Last year, Mercedes overtook BMW for the first time in more than a decade with a fresh lineup and some all-new models, including the GLC coupe-styled SUV, that have attracted younger buyers. Audi continued to be dogged by parent Volkswagen Group’s diesel-emission cheating scandal and a dealer dispute in its biggest market, China. The automaker is counting on its fourth-generation A8 flagship sedan, unveiled in Barcelona on Tuesday, to help put it back in the race.
Sales of BMW brand vehicles rose 2% to 192,873 last month, while third-placed Audi saw sales rise 1% to 170,650.
Through June, Mercedes sold 1.14 million cars, 14% more than a year earlier. BMW, which is has started to expand its SUV offering and renew an aging lineup of sedans, lagged behind with a 5.2% gain to 1.03 million vehicles. Audi registrations fell 4.7% to 908,950.
BMW sold 106,244 fewer vehicles in the first half than Mercedes, versus a difference of 89,818 cars in the five months through May.
