Stability in a segment normally full of surprises
Sales of Premium Mid-sized SUVs in the US were up 3.9% in Q3 of 2017, a slowdown compared to the first two quarters of the year, when the segment recorded robust double-digit growth. Still, sales are up 8.9% since the beginning of the year, to 328,025, meaning the segment continues to (slowly) close the gap to the Premium Large SUV segment, which is still the largest from among Premium SUV segments at 458,376 units for the first three quarters of the year. With the new Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Range Rover Velar still building sales, and the new BMW X3, Infiniti QX50 and Volvo XC60 coming to market soon, the segment is bound to grow robustly in the next year. [Read more…]
The midsized premium SUV segment continues to outgrow the overall market with a 12% increase in Q2 and a 20% increase in the first half of 2017, to 276.300 sales. The two segment leaders consolidated their grip on the segment as both showed double digit growth while their closest four rivals all showed double digit declines. As a result, the #1 and #2 hold a combined 40% of the segment in Q2 and 37,3% in the first half. Amazingly, the 
Sales of midsized premium SUVs remain in booming growth mode in the first quarter of 2017, with an increase of 27% to 142.000 sales. The overall market is up just 7,8% in the same period. All but one remaining nameplate in the segment grow their volume, but the biggest gainer also takes the top spot for the first time ever. The 
The midsized premium SUV segment is one of the fastest growing in Europe, with sales up 29% in 2016 compared to an overall market up 6,2%. All remaining models improve their sales and 9 out of the top-10 set new sales records, but Mercedes-Benz and the British brands are the biggest winners this year. Still, the 
Sales of midsized premium SUVs in Europe keep growing even faster, at +44% in Q3, bringing the year-to-date tally for the first three quarters to +31%. None of the remaining nameplates has clocked a loss, but five out of ten show only single-digit gains, as over 40% of the segment growth can be attributed to a single brand: Mercedes-Benz. After years of slow sales due to a product that didn’t match the preferences of most buyers (the GLK), the German brand is now playing catch-up with the new GLC and GLC Coupe, immediately storming to third place of the segment. Ahead of the GLC are two elderly models, both about 8 years old already but still selling well in the final stages of their life cycle. The Volvo XC60 grows just 3% which means it loses about 4,5 percentage points of share, and the Audi Q5 improves 5% and loses 3,6 percentage points, but climbs back onto the podium after being relegated to 4th place in the first half of the year. 
The midsized premium SUV segment in Europe enjoys hot demand with sales up 25% in the first half of 2016. This is a result of renewed models and the introduction of new players to the segment, but while most premium segments are dominated by the Germans, amazingly the leader of the midsized premium crossover class is an already 8-year old Swede! The Volvo XC60 shows flat sales and therefore loses a big chunk of share compared to last year, but its lead was big enough to hold on to the pole position. Behind it, there’s a fierce three-way battle for 2nd place between the Range Rover Evoque, freshly facelifted and segment leader in Q1, the Mercedes-Benz GLC, all-new and ready to take control of the segment, something its predecessor GLK never achieved, and the Audi Q5, just as old as the Volvo but #2 of the segment in Q2. The Volvo is likely to hang on to the lead and the GLC will leapfrog the Evoque by the next quarter for sure, but for the rest of this top-4….. The Audi’s strength is amazing and I almost can’t believe it could still outsell the completely fresh and great-looking Mercedes, but that’s exactly what it’s done in the second quarter and remains a force to be reckoned with.