For the first time in many years, Mercedes-Benz was displaced as the top-selling
luxury car brand in 2023, BMW stole the top spot with 26,184 sales to
Mercedes-Benz with 24,315. Quite clearly, the Mercedes agency sales model where it
sells its cars at a no discount national drive-away price clearly took its toll in total
volume terms. Interestingly, BMW’s best sellers for the year were its SUV’s, the
popular X1, X3, X5, and X7 representing 50 percent of its sales which is perhaps
why it has now axed the entry-level 320i sedan from its 3-series line-up, which
now starts at a rather hefty $94,700 plus-on-road costs for the 2024 BMW 330i
mid-sized sedan. Also axed, the 330e plug-in hybrid was replaced by the fully electric
I4 eDrive35 – the move according to BMW in response to the changing market
strategies.

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