What is the proportion of BBA in the national car market?
3 Answers
BBA accounts for about 13% of national car sales. BBA refers to the three luxury car brands: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. The English name for Mercedes-Benz is BENZ, BMW is BMW, and Audi is AUDI. The first letters of these three car brands' English names form BBA. Some creative netizens also jokingly refer to the three Chinese domestic car brands, Bestune, BYD, and Alto, as "BBA". Here is additional information: BBA ranking by grade: Regarding grade, everyone has their own understanding, and for BBA cars, aspects like power, interior, and driving experience each have their own emphasis. However, based on brand history, brand value, car sales, and price, the ranking of BBA is Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi in order.
I've been in the automotive industry for over a decade, keeping an eye on market data. When it comes to the proportion of BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi) in the national car market, considering both ownership and sales, it's about 5%. In 2023, China's car ownership exceeded 300 million vehicles, with BBA totaling less than 15 million. While this proportion may sound small, it's growing rapidly year by year. The main reason is the improving economy, allowing more people to afford luxury cars, especially in first and second-tier cities where the proportion is higher—for example, over 10% in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. However, this is still not high compared to domestic brands and Japanese cars, which dominate the market. Looking ahead, with the popularization of electric vehicles, BBA's proportion is expected to rise further as they are also ramping up their electrification efforts, which relates to structural changes in the automotive industry.
As an average car owner who has driven quite a few vehicles, I've noticed BBA (Benz, BMW, Audi) becoming increasingly common. When discussing proportions, I once asked a friend who works at an auto repair shop, and he mentioned they account for about 5% nationwide. But in urban areas like our residential community, roughly one out of every twenty parked cars is a BBA. Looking at ownership data, BBA made up nearly 8% of new car sales last year, though the percentage is lower when considering the entire vehicle population including older cars. Since luxury cars are expensive, their growing popularity among buyers—especially young people pursuing premium brands—has driven market growth. However, compared to domestic brands like BYD and Wuling, BBA still represents a smaller share. Overall, the trend is upward, as rising living standards fuel consumption upgrades.
