Sales in the limousine segment in Europe increased 4% in Q2 of 2017, and as a result the segment is up 5% in the first half, to 23.337 sales. However, 4 models out of the top-5 and 7 out of the top-10 show double digit declines in the second quarter as only one model more than makes up for all of their losses. Segment leader Mercedes-Benz S-Class sees its share of the segment thaw from a dominant 45% in the first half of 2015 to 38,7% in the first half of 2016 to “just” 32,8% now. Its segment leadership still cannot be touched, although we have to mention that its figures include sales of the coupe and convertible versions, so in terms of pure sedan sales, the BMW 7-series could be either very close or even ahead. Worryingly, the 7-Series is already down 19% in Q2 despite being still in its second year of sales. The main culprit of its early demise may the the new generation Porsche Panamera, which sold a healthy 2.670 copies in the second quarter, less than 500 sales behind the 7-Series. In fact, the Panamera was the segment leader in June, holding 31,2% of the segment that month and selling 200 more copies than both the Mercedes and the BMW. And this is before Porsche has launched the Sport Turismo version, a kind of shooting brake/station wagon version which should boost its popularity further.
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The Audi A8 is down to 4th place as its next generation is just arriving at dealerships, showing Audi’s new design language. It should start to pick up pace in the second half of the year, but it’s very unlikely to finish 2017 on the segment podium. After a stable Q1, the Jaguar XJ loses a quarter of its volume in the second quarter, while its British rival Bentley Flying Spur adds 21% in Q2 for a 40% gain year-to-date. That puts it ahead of the Maserati Quattroporte, down by a quarter in Q2, while the Bentley Mulsanne loses 28% as it cannot capitalize on the model change of its main rival Rolls Royce Phantom. Nor can the smaller Rolls Royce Ghost with sales down 44% in the second quarter.
Also check out the limousine segment in the US, where the Cadillac CT6 has made a splashing entry into second place, while the Genesis G90 is in an impressive fifth place.
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| Limousine segment | 2017-H1 | 2016-H1 | Change | Share | |
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 7.657 | 8.607 | -11% | 32,8% |
| 2 | BMW 7-series | 6.451 | 7.027 | -8% | 27,6% |
| 3 | Porsche Panamera | 4.736 | 1.213 | 290% | 20,3% |
| 4 | Audi A8 / S8 | 2.531 | 3.179 | -20% | 10,8% |
| 5 | Jaguar XJ | 958 | 1.080 | -11% | 4,1% |
| 6 | Bentley Flying Spur | 392 | 280 | 40% | 1,7% |
| 7 | Maserati Quattroporte | 309 | 388 | -20% | 1,3% |
| 8 | Bentley Mulsanne | 107 | 114 | -6% | 0,5% |
| 9 | Rolls Royce Ghost | 90 | 99 | -9% | 0,4% |
| 10 | Aston Martin Rapide | 68 | 58 | 17% | 0,3% |
| 11 | Rolls Royce Phantom | 30 | 45 | -33% | 0,1% |
| 12 | Volkswagen Phaeton | 8 | 145 | -94% | 0% |
| Segment total | 23.337 | 22.235 | 5% |
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.