Who's gonna win 2013? Audi/BMW/MB

[Tumbo]

Results of total sales in 2012:

1. BMW 1.540,085
2. Audi 1.455.000 (aprox)

3. MB 1.320.097​

​

Who do you think will win in 2013?​

 

[JHF]

Hope so Audi!

 

[Zafiro]

Mercedes.....or did I just made a joke?

 

[Tumbo]

I vote for Audi, because I hope that they are gonna win. But honestly I think it's so open, that anyone of the 3 can win. I think marketing is a very important factor here. But Audi has a big weapon in China, and they seem to be on fire in the US too.

 

[Hofmeister]

BMW. From the official press releases Audi sales grew by 11.7% compared to 2011, BMW 11.6%. BMW have the new X5, 4 Series, Z4 LCI, full year of 6er GC and 3er. That's not to say Audi have nothing in the pipeline, but I still think BMW will take it by a simlar margin again. Also, BMW posted 40.4% growth in China in 2012 ( though this includes MINI ), Audi 29.6%....

 

[Wolfgang]

MB sold 1.320.097 is 2012. The most exclusive of the big three, and this will probably remain so in 2013.

Mercedes-Benz achieved a new sales record in 2012. From January through December, a total of 1,320,097 vehicles of the core brand were sold.

http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656186-1-1563652-1-0-0-0-0-1-11694-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

 

[LaArtist]

Im more interested in who of the 3 made most money 2012

 

[Gianclaudio]

I thing MB will surpass Audi this 2013, as the sales of the A klasse will start to tilt the scale.....

 

[Wolfgang]

Agreed, the A-Class may help. Mind, Audi is already far ahead of Mercedes in China, with 405.838 sold in 2012 versus 196.211 and plans an increase to 700.000 by 2015. MB plans around 300.000 there by 2015 according to a presentation in 2011.

 

[Tumbo]

MB sold 1.320.097 is 2012. The most exclusive of the big three, and this will probably remain so in 2013.
http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656186-1-1563652-1-0-0-0-0-1-11694-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

Thanx. My source was in that case wrong.
I edited the numbers:

1. BMW 1.540,085
2. Audi 1.455.100 (aprox)
3. MB 1.320.097

 

[Merc1]

I think Audi will do it this year for sure.

M

 

[EnI]

It's all up to who will be able to boost local production in China the most ... In 213 and beyond. Also:

What's new for Audi in 2013? A boost from A3 & LCI Q5 + Q5 Made in China. That's it.

BMW: boost from 1er 3dr, partially a boost from 3er Touring, boost from 3er in Chinese market (it was absent there till Sept 2012), boost from X1 LCI, X1 in US & Chinese market, LCI X3 is coming, new X5 is coming, 5er LCI is coming, 3er GT is coming, 4er Coupe is coming, i3 as well.

MB: boost from A-class & CLA, boost from new GL, partially from new ML as well & GLK LCI, marginally still from C-class LCI, definitely boost from E-class LCI, and some boost from new S-class.

IMO BMW will retain no.1 position in 2013.

2014 will be more interesting.
With A3 sedan coming, new Q7 for Audi.
GLA & new C-class for MB, MLC, new CL.
For BMW: 4er Cabrio & 4er GC, Active Tourer, 2er coupe & cabrio, X4, new X6

So, beside some niche models (SACs, 4dr coupes) it will all come down to the fact who will the quickest @ downsizing: the expansion of A3, A/B & 1er lines. BMW are also planning to launch an A1 rival - no word from MB yet regarding this particular agenda. We can expect a minivan from Audi - to fight B-class & BMW's Active Tourer.

And then there is a production facility limitation ... who will be able to expand the production facilities on time. Especially in fast growing markets.

IMO Audi won't overtake BMW anytime soon. Except they totally boost Chinese production in no time, and BMW doesn't follow with same tempo.

MB has a good chance to overtake Audi in 2013 or in 2014. But it still comes to China where Audi is just too strong - Audi fate depends on China ... to successfully defend No.2 position, or even take No.1 position as best-selling luxury car brand worldwide. If Audi is much stronger then MB & BMW in China, anything can happen.

 

[Sunny]

Coming soon... long wheel base version of A1/1/A class... "because racecar China".

 

[skbmw]

It's all up to who will be able to boost local production in China the most ... IMO BMW will retain no.1 position in 2013.

My opinion is that 2013 will be the year that we will see an even bigger cap in the top three. The effort BMW has been putting into EfficientDynamics and the likes will pay off. There are many factors, besides global warming and increasing oil prices, pushing the demand for low emission vehicles. Considering the top tree, BMW is well ahead of the opposition when it comes down to efficient technology, meaning power and emissions. Desireability within the top 3 will probably remain the same, it comes down to who has the right product for the demand. The only way BMW can screw things up in 2013 is not launching the i3 in time or launch it with production/quality issues.

 

[chonkoa]

I think BMW might retain the crown this year but see Audi overtaking BMW in 2014.

 

[K-A]

I voted Audi because I don't want BMW to have cars everywhere since I now have one, and call me a purist but part of paying a premium is buying into an aspirational brand. Then again, BMW's pleased me with their engineering prowess so much at this point that I'm not as concerned with that aspect as much as I was with M-B (who's "cachet-factor" is one of the leading determiners).

M-B's squiggle lined cheaper FWD-cars might give them a pop for 2013, but the long term trend is intact I think, the brand's lack of focus won't get them any long term momentum rises against the other two until they really develop a confident identity, design idiom and driving characteristic identity (no longer are they the most luxurious and certainly not the sportiest).

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Probably BMW...even though I would prefer Mercedes. I think the CLA would be too late to make a big difference in sales for 2013.

 

[EnI]

CLA is a niche car. It's a compact 4dr coupe ... don't expect sales miracles. The annual worldwide sales will be around 50k units max IMO, and even this number is very optimistic. Also mind BMW & Audi have 3dr versions of 1er / A3, while MB doesn't have a 3dr A-class. Yet.

Eg. Audi A3 sedan has much better sales potential - eg. up to 75k units/year. Not to mention GLA mini-SUV on MB side, and ActiveTourer minivan on BMW side - both destined to exceed a sales mark of 100k units/year. But all 3 will make an impact in 2014, not 2013.

Right now ... as far as product expansion goes ... BMW is positioned best. Also when it comes to product facility expansion - except in China where Audi has a gigantic lead. But Audi will strike back when VAG common platforms are ready: especially those for minivans that Audi product line still lacks etc.

When it comes to niche cars BMW is still the leader, and new niche cars coming in the next 2-3 years ... mostly the 4dr coupes, the GTs, the Active Tourers, and the SACs. The expansion is focused on 1er to 4er segments mostly, especially on the FWD platform.

The high-end part of the product line will only see 2 new models: i8 eco GT (also in spyder version!!!) and X7/X8 luxury SAV/SAC. No greenlight for a luxury roadster ala Z8 & a 7er-based 4dr coupe as of yet (the new "8er") - currently the i8 Coupe & i8 Spyder are meant to fill this space.

 

[Wolfgang]

This chart shows approximate volumes, with a modest expansion.

It's from a presentation Dieter Zetsche gave in Beijing in 2010, and may thus not be up to date, but might give an indication of the relative contribution of the new A-Class (W176), new B-Class (W246), the CLA 4-door coupe (C117) and the GLA compact SUV (X156). It's not yet listing the fifth model, though, rumored to be the CLA Shooting Brake (X117), which may share the volume with the CLA.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

I hope No 3 for MB, because, what I want to see is the damn brand!