Mercedes widens lead over BMW with trendy new E-Class, SUVs

Munich

MERCEDES-BENZ widened its global luxury-car sales lead in the first half of the year, setting back BMW AG chief executive officer Harald Krueger's effort to reclaim the segment's top spot.

The Daimler AG brand sold 1.14 million cars in the six months through June, 14 per cent more than a year earlier, on soaring demand for its revamped E-Class sedan and trendy sport utility vehicles (SUVs).