Segment shrinks despite new A-Class finding great purchase with buyers
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Sales in the US Premium Compact segment fell by 14.2% to 32,669 in the first half of 2019, accelerating the rate of decline the segment experienced in 2018. What’s more, combined with the 24% sales decline the segment experienced in 2017, total sales are now heading towards barely over half of what the segment achieved in 2015. However,with the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class finding good purchase with buyers and the new Audi A3 just around the corner, there is hope yet that the segment can arrest its decline in the next year or so.
Note: “AP” designates models that are classified in the Alternative Power segment, presented here for comparison; clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off
Highlights:
- Sales of the outgoing Mercedes-Benz CLA fell by almost a third as its de facto replacement came to market, the A-Class shooting quickly to third place, outselling its Audi and BMW rivals despite going on sale only in March
- The facelifted Acura ILX consolidated its second place in the rankings, even managing a surprising 26% sales growth
- All other models in the segment saw their sales fall, with the sales declines ranging from around a quarter (the still-fresh Mini Clubman) to almost a quarter (the aforementioned about-to-be-replaced Audi A3)
Note: clicking on the model names in legend turns the display for that model on/off; data is displayed from 1990 onwards, but starts earlier – access previous years using slider on bottom