Cars
BMW Loses Luxury-Car Crown to Mercedes as 2017 Headwinds Rise
- Carmaker lags with aging lineup amid climbing technology costs
- Threat of U.S. trade barriers, Brexit add to challenges
BMW’s Robertson on 5 Series, Electric Cars, Mexico Plans
BMW lost its crown as the world’s biggest luxury-car brand to Mercedes-Benz, ending its reign after more than a decade amid a cluttered lineup of aging models.
The Munich-based manufacturer sold 80,000 fewer cars last year than the Daimler AG brand, which drew younger buyers with sporty redesigns and a bigger array of increasingly popular SUVs. A rebound for BMW will be hampered by challenges that range from slowing auto demand in Europe to the threat of trade barriers in the U.K. and North America.