BMW 3-Series competitors struggle to shorten the sales gap

One of the reasons the BMW 3-Series stays ahead of its competitors is because the car is offered in four different variants, all which R.L. Polk says sell in decent numbers. According to a study by the firm, from 2008 through February 2011, more than a third of 3-Series registration were coupes, convertibles or station wagons.

“However, that situation is changing. Five of the six 3-Series rivals that offer more than one body style have seen a substantial increase in their coupe, convertible and station wagon mixes,” R.L. Polk said. “The convertible and station wagon sales rates for these six models as a group have more than doubled, while the coupe has almost doubled.”

The BMW 3-Series sedan has fallen in the mix by almost 10 percentage points over the same time period.

As far as competitors go, the Cadillac CTS sedan now accounts for 70% of all CTS registrations, following the recent launch of the CTS Coupe and the CTS Station Wagon. Audi’s A4 and S4 sedan now makeup less than two thirds of total A4/S4/A5/S5 deliveries since the Audi A5/S5 are well received. Mercedes-Benz has also jumped in on offering different variants with its C-Class, with the launch of the C-Class Coupe joining the lineup later this year.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: R.L. Polk