- Sales of the 5-Series in Europe have soared 56% through the January-April period.
- Buyers are really loving the estate versions of the 5-Series, A6, and E-Class.
- While sales of the i5 have jumped, those of the Mercedes EQE have fallen 22%.
In a segment where prestige, performance, and constant tech upgrades keep brands on their toes, one model is clearly pulling ahead. BMW may be in the middle of prepping a a facelift for the 5-Series, but the current eighth-generation version, launched in May 2023, is doing more than holding its ground. It’s dominating.
Through the first four months of 2025, it wasn’t just ahead of the pack in Europe, it was outpacing the competition by a comfortable margin, leaving rivals from Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Lexus, and Maserati looking like they’re still warming up.
Read: BMW’s Best 5-Series Almost Looked Like Something Else Entirely
According to data compiled by Automotive Europe, BMW sold 20,402 units of the 5-Series in Europe between January and April. That’s a 56% jump compared to the same period last year. Of course, some of that growth comes from replacing the outgoing, well-aged seventh-generation model, but the pace of uptake is still impressive.
For context, Mercedes-Benz delivered 15,811 E-Class models in the same window. While that figure represents a solid 19% increase year-over-year, it still leaves the E-Class well behind its Bavarian rival. Trailing BMW and Mercedes was Audi, with sales of the A6 and S6 topping out at 13,774, 10% up over last year.
As for the all-electric versions of the three premium German saloons, BMW once again led the pack with the i5 scoring 8,843 sales, 55% more than January-April 2024. Mind you, the Audi A6 e-tron wasn’t too far behind, with 7,460 finding new homes. By comparison, demand for the Mercedes-Benz EQE dropped by 22%, with 3,740 sold so far this year.
Rounding out the final four places were the Volvo S90/V90 with 2,722 sold, the Lexus ES with 1,397 sales, the Audi A7/S7 at 1,216, and the Maserati Ghibli with just 51 units sold.
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There are a couple of key factors that help explain the rise in sales of these premium models from the three German brands. Perhaps most important is the fact that they all offer ICE, hybrid, and EV powertrains, giving shoppers plenty of choice.
This year, diesel versions have accounted for 30% of all large premium vehicle sales, placing them alongside PHEVs with a 30% share. EVs weren’t too far behind, accounting for a 27% share of the market. Gasoline-powered models account for 11%, while traditional hybrids have a 1.8% market share.
There is also strong demand for the estate versions of the 5-Series, A6, and E-Class. According to Auto News, approximately 60% of buyers in Germany opt for the estate over the sedan. For example, 61% of BMW i5 sales are for the Touring, while 86% of ICE-powered A6 models are for the estate, and 82% of A6 e-tron sales are for the estate. There’s a roughly 50/50 split between wagon and sedan sales for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
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