BMW's Stalled Growth Engine Opens Way to Luxury-Car Top Spot

  • Company lacks product momentum during 100th anniversary year
  • New CEO under pressure to present `big bang' after long review

BMW’s Robertson: China Dealers' mood ‘Much More Stable’

As BMW prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday next week, Mercedes-Benz is out to spoil the party.

Mercedes has its best shot yet this year to reclaim the luxury-car crown that BMW has held for a decade, a triumph that highlights the challenge facing BMW to re-energize the brand. Yet the Munich-based company isn’t bringing any new models to this week’s Geneva International Motor Show, in contrast with Daimler AG, which will show its bread-and-butter Mercedes E-Class sedan to European audiences for the first time, alongside a C-Class convertible.