Quote:
Originally Posted by A_
Everyone kept saying that the G11 wasn't selling. Do you have global sales figures for the G11/G12?
The same applies to the 7 E65/E66 series, which was supposed to sell better than the E38.
Pierce Brosnan and his BMW E38. August 1998, California
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Sales figures are not that relative and difficult to compare across generations that are more than 15 years apart from each other. However, I believe it’s more accurate to compare 2 back-to-back generations for sure. The launch year is just within 8 years on average.
The market dynamics change over time, and people’s perceptions of cars, vans, and SUVs also shift. For instance, a sedan like the current G70, which sells around an average of 10K units annually, is likely better in terms of sales figures (relatively speaking) than another sedan that sold 15K units 15-20 years ago. This is because it’s very challenging now to offer a sedan and convince customers to choose it over an SUV like the X5, X6, or X7. Personally, I almost wanted to get an X6M or X6 M60 as my daily driver. It’s an incredible car that combines the feel of a sedan with the capabilities of an SUV. For families who can’t afford more than one car, or say 2, they would almost certainly want their only car, or at least one of the 2, to be an SUV. In the past, most people owned a sedan in the US, cause SUVs and trucks weren’t that popular for road trips. Sedans were very comfy and had enough room (even 3 row sedans were very popular). It’s different now. Many of my neighbors have 2 SUVs. I don’t think anyone in my neighbhood has more sedans than SUV/vans count other than me. I have only 1 SUV and 2 sedans, and at some point before I had 3 sedans with 1 SUV or 2-3 sedans and no SUV at all. Everyone else has either 1 SUV, SUV + Van/truck, 2 SUVs/trucks, or maybe multiple SUV/Van/truck + 1 sedan for practical reasons I guess.
The point that is worth mentioning now: This 7-series, is arguably the most succesfull 7-series, or at least one of the best generations ever (say top 3 for sure), because it is the very first 7-series to ever exceed the S-class sales figures AFAIK. Second, you can tell from the sales trend that there is a general (increase) in sales figures trending gen to gen, when majority of other luxury sedans are struggling and seeing a general consistent decline in their sedan sales (like the S-class). In part, because the demand on sedans continues to decline, and then partially cause the new gen isn’t as desired/great as prev one, or as the 7 and other luxury sedans. It will take a VERY excellent sedan to reverse or outweigh the overall trend of lower demand on sedans. This G70 did exactly that. Others did the opposite.