Large Luxury SUV Sales And Large Luxury Car Sales In Canada – September 2011

Mercedes-Benz Canada posted a huge increase in the sales of its largest SUVs in September 2011. To achieve a market share of 52% in its segment, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (and G-Wagen) needed to double the volume achieved in September 2010. Indeed, sales jumped 108% year-over-year. For a change, we actually have the split on GL-Class/G-Class sales, something not normally provided for Canadian publication. 229 GL-Class SUVs were sold in September along with six of the classic G-Wagens.

Cadillac sold 46 regular-wheelbase Escalades, 15 long-wheelbase Escalade ESVs, and 16 Avalanche-based Escalade EXT SUVish pickups. Lincoln Navigator sales jumped 78% (21 units) in September. Sales of the Infiniti QX56 were up 186% from 14 in September 2010 to 40 last month.

This was Mercedes-Benz’s month to shine, however. The GL-Class wasn’t just the segment winner. It was more popular than all the mainstream large SUVs featured in this chart.

CLICK EITHER CHART FOR LARGER VIEW

Canada’s new car market declined – very slightly – in September. The biggest luxury sedans weren’t all faced with such a downturn. Sales of Audi’s A8 were level. BMW 7-Series sales improved at a 22% clip. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and its CL-Class coupe sibling rose 13%. The Jaguar XJ was down by just a single unit, from 22 to 21. Porsche Panamera sales fell by two units.

Ah, but the Lexus LS. Struggling to find its way back after being hurt by crisis after crisis, the LS was down 44% in September. That works out to only seven fewer LSs sold this September than last. However, sales of the LS600hL hybrid fell from three to one and are off last year’s pace by 59% through three quarters.