After rising sharply in 2014 thanks to the new generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the limousine segment takes a small correction in 2015 with sales down 6% to 38,807 sales. The segment leading S-Class follows that trend and keeps its share of the segment at almost 43%, selling almost as much as its three closest competitors combined. But that is about to change in 2016, as BMW has just launched the latest generation of its 7-series, which promises to be loaded with even more tech and features than the S-Class.
The BMW already outsold the Audi A8 by a large margin in Q4 as the outgoing model was in sell-out mode and the first few units of the new model were registered. Mercedes-Benz has always been one of the strongest players in this segment, coming up on top 15 years in the last 17, with the BMW 7-series taking the crown twice (2009 and 2012), both times by margins of less than 1,000 sales. But 2016 may be the third time the 7 tops the S, although deliveries of BMW’s plug-in hybrid version won’t start until late in the year, an ever more important version even in the limousine segment as business owners and board members want to show their consciousness about the environment without having to sacrifice (rear-seat) comfort. Thanks to its 2014 facelift, Audi holds on to its impressive second place for the second time in a row and the fourth time ever as the A8 did as well in 2007 and 2008.
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