Mercedes Benz will soon see its championship for luxury sedan sales taken over by its archrival BMW for the first time since 1993. From January to November this year, 961,600 Benz have been sold, lagging behind BMW's more than 1 million units.

Data released on Dec. 14 show BMW's sales in the European market have risen 9.5 percent in November over the same period of last year. However, sales of Benz were only up 3.1 percent. Association of European Automobile Manufacturers said Mercedes' market share in Europe kept at 4.6 percent while BMW's share rose to 4.2 percent from 3.7 percent last year.

In addition, Mercedes' sales in the US have slipped 0.9 percent while BMW gained 2 percent there this year.

This year Mercedes has gone through difficult time, including quality problem, job cuts and reshuffles at the top management level. It is the priority of DaimlerChrysler and its new CEO Dieter Zetsche to revive Mercedes. Mr. Zetsche has been in charge of Mercedes in September this year .He will assume the CEO for DaimlerChrysler next year. He has successful experience of leading Chrysler out of woods.

Toyota's Lexus, the leader on the US luxury sedan market, has shown attempt to make a stronghold in Europe which is dominated by Mercedes and BMW. Although the less-than-400,000 units of Lexus global sales is hardly comparable to Benz or BMW, Toyota is ambitious to make Lexus an international name brand and grab more market from the two German brands.

By People's Daily Online

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