BMW Executive Expects Mercedes to Start 2012 as Top Seller

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW, on a pace to become the top-selling luxury auto brand in the U.S. this year, will probably be outsold by Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz early next year, a top executive said.

Updated C-Class compact Mercedes models will go on sale later this year and probably make that brand the top seller in the first quarter while BMW is still selling older 3-Series models, said Jim O’Donnell, head of BMW U.S. operations. As a result, Mercedes may lead in deliveries for a few months, he said.