BMW Retains American Luxury Sales Crown

BMW AG's namesake brand was the top-selling luxury marque in the U.S. for the second consecutive year in 2012, thanks to a 39% December surge to 37,400 vehicles.

In 2011 BMW ended the Lexus make's 11-year run as the country's luxury leader.

BMW's sales in 2012 climbed 14% year on year to a company record of 281,500 vehicles, surpassing Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand by 7,400 units.

Mercedes, which aimed to steal the American luxury sales crown this year, outsold BMW in the U.S. through November. But Mercedes' lead had been narrowing steadily in recent months. In December the marque's volume grew only 13% to 15,400 units, thus falling behind its German rival.