BMW Could Edge Out Mercedes in 2004 Local Sales

The battle between BMW and Mercedes-Benz dealers in Orange County heated up late last year.

BMW was a mere 51 cars short of edging Mercedes out of the top spot among luxury car dealers in October and November, according to the Orange County Auto Outlook put out by the Costa Mesa-based Orange County Automobile Dealers Association.

Local BMW dealers sold 1,756 cars in the two months, up 63% from the same period a year earlier. For the year through November, BMW sales were up 23%.

Mercedes sales were down for the months of September and October but made a comeback in November.

Mercedes dealers here sold 1,807 cars during October and November, a 24% rise from the year-ago period. In September and October, Mercedes sold 1,506 cars, down 12%.

(The association tracks sales in rolling, two-month increments.)