In a tightening horse race, Mercedes-Benz returned to the entrance in luxurious section gross sales for the primary quarter, powered by sturdy demand for its luxurious crossovers.

However its lead has narrowed from a 12 months earlier.

Within the first quarter of 2020, Mercedes was in first place with a snug 11,400-vehicle distance from the section’s third-place challenger, Lexus. However for the primary quarter of 2021, Lexus was inside 4,003 gross sales of Mercedes. And BMW, now No. 3 within the race, was simply 2,820 automobiles behind Lexus.

And if final 12 months was any indicator, 2021 could possibly be one other dramatic race. Regardless of that roomy first-quarter place a 12 months in the past, Mercedes ended 2020 in third place behind BMW and Lexus.

The posh car section is exhibiting no signal of slowing down, regardless of the lingering financial results of the pandemic across the nation. Complete U.S. luxurious gross sales rose 20 % to 547,903 automobiles and light-weight vans within the first quarter, considerably outperforming the broader trade’s 12 % enhance.

Luxurious model gross sales ought to proceed to have a great 12 months, mentioned Michelle Krebs, government analyst at Autotrader.

“Individuals who have cash to purchase luxurious automobiles weren’t harm by the pandemic, by way of job losses, and their financial institution accounts are beefed up due to months of not spending on issues like holidays,” Krebs mentioned. “Plus, their used luxurious automobiles are price a bunch. We’re seeing report used costs at wholesale for luxurious automobiles.”

Mercedes-Benz received off to a brisk begin for the 12 months, topping rivals Lexus and BMW within the annual gross sales race.

Mercedes delivered 78,256 automobiles, excluding business vans, within the first quarter, up 16 % from a 12 months earlier. The midsize GLE crossover led the outcomes, with 16,668 gross sales, adopted by the GLC compact crossover, with gross sales of 15,569.

Japanese model Lexus noticed its gross sales climb 32 % to 74,253 automobiles within the quarter. BMW offered 71,433 automobiles, up 20 % from a 12 months earlier.

Amongst different luxurious manufacturers, Tesla noticed an estimated 25 % enhance in first-quarter gross sales, delivering 66,000 automobiles and crossovers.

Audi reported 54,840 gross sales within the quarter, up 33 % from a 12 months earlier.

Genesis gross sales greater than doubled to eight,222. And Porsche Automobiles North America reported quarterly U.S. gross sales of 17,368 automobiles, a forty five % uptick from the identical time final 12 months.

Jaguar suffered the section’s deepest dive, tumbling an estimated 44 % to 4,046.