European sales 2015 first half Limousine segment

Sales of limousines in Europe were up 29% in 2014 and another 10% in Q1 of 2015, thanks to the introduction of the very successful class leading Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But with that model reaching its second anniversary, its sales are plateauing at just over 9.000 units in the first half of the year, almost flat with the same period in 2014. And that’s the best result in the top-6, with the challengers of the almighty S-Class all losing more ground on last year: the Audi A8 remains in second place with sales down just 4%, but the Porsche Panamera is kicked off the podium with a margin of just 2 sales by the soon-to-be-replaced BMW 7-series. The Panamera loses 30% of its volume, while the 7-series is down 18%. The new generation 7-series is due by the end of the year and has already been revealed, so the Panamera may steal its position back for the full-year ranking as the BMW will suffer from the model changeover, but I’m confident the new generation 7-series will finish on top of the ranking next year.

The Jaguar XJ was down 32% in Q1, but just 4% in Q2, adding up to a loss of 20% in the first half, while the Volkswagen Phaeton does the opposite, with sales down just 3% in Q1, but down 22% in Q2, adding up to a loss of 15% for the half. Similarly, the Maserati Quattroporte was up 21% in Q1, but down 2% in Q2, so an increase of 8% for the first half masks the negative trend for the Italian supersaloon. The Rolls Royce Ghost recovers slightly from its slow performance last year, when its coupe version Wraith had just been launched, and it’s one of the fastest growing models of the segment, together with the Aston Martin Rapide and Bentley Mulsanne, albeit from a very low base.

2015 first half limousine sales Europe

	Limousine segment	H1 2015	H1 2014	Change
1.	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	9.109	9.182	-1%
2.	Audi A8 / S8	3.647	3.810	-4%
3.	BMW 7-series	2.284	2.783	-18%
4.	Porsche Panamera	2.282	3.281	-30%
5.	Jaguar XJ	867	1.089	-20%
6.	Volkswagen Phaeton	848	992	-15%
7.	Maserati Quattroporte	464	431	8%
8.	Bentley Flying Spur	301	347	-13%
9.	Rolls Royce Ghost	126	104	21%
10.	Bentley Mulsanne	110	97	13%
11.	Aston Martin Rapide	106	85	25%
12.	Lexus LS	81	113	-28,3%
13.	Rolls Royce Phantom	53	64	-17%
	Segment total	20.254	22.385	-10%

Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2013 and monthly sales in 2012, 2013 and 2014, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site. Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.