E-segment

Last updated
2024 best-selling E-segment cars
Mercedes-Benz W213 Facelift IMG 5257.jpg
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
5th generation (2017–2024)
BMW G60 520i 1X7A2443.jpg
BMW 5 Series
8th generation (2024-present)
2018 Audi A6 TDi Quattro Front.jpg
Audi A6
5th generation (2018–present)
2018 Volvo S90 R-Design D4 Automatic 2.0 Front.jpg
Volvo S90
1st generation (2016-present)

The E-segment is the 5th category of the European segments for passenger cars, synonymous with the term executive car. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

E-Segment is a niche in Europe (2-3% penetration in 2010s). In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, E-segment sales accounted for 2.7%, 2.7%, 2.3% and 2.1% market share in Europe, respectively. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Characteristics

Most E-segment cars are sedans/saloons, however several models are also produced in other body styles such as wagons/estates. As of 2021, E-segment cars typically have a length of approx. 4.8m to 5m.

European vs. American classification

The terms E-segment or executive car do not have a one-to-one equivalent in the American car classification. However, if a modern E-segment sedan by a European brand is sold in the U.S., it falls into the category of both mid-size and full-size sedan, usually a mid-size luxury sedan.

The American mid-size sedan classification [note 1] spans both the D-segment and the E-segment. With size brackets of European car segments increasing, the Toyota Camry fell from the E-segment [8] into the D-segment while remaining a mid-size car.

Current models

In 2020, the highest selling E-segment cars in Europe were the Mercedes-Benz E-class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Volvo V90/S90 and Porsche Taycan. [9]

50.000 - 100.000 sales(Best-Selling)

10.000 - 50.000 sales

Fewer than 10.000 sales

Moved to F-segment

Sales figures in Europe

2020
rank
BrandModel20132014201520162017201820192020 % change
(2019–2020)
1 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 106,55999,56584,77199,494127,638117,906107,45370,171Decrease2.svg -35%
2 BMW 5 Series 107,30798,70188,89881,599109,953108,65389,32659,814Decrease2.svg -33%
3 Audi A6 / S6 / RS6 / A6 allroad quattro 82,88384,28395,32993,47978,94471,25883,01255,737Decrease2.svg -33%
4 Volvo S90 / V90 ---10,83455,19356,19240,31523,578Decrease2.svg -42%
5 Porsche Taycan ------74612,332Increase2.svg +1553%
6 Audi Audi A7 / S7 / RS7 8,9868,47310,1969,1206,1118,9358,1855,807Decrease2.svg -29%
7 Tesla Model S 3,9118,84115,16911,56416,02617,3868,6355,562Decrease2.svg -36%
8 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 15,13910,28912,6007,8035,1169,1138,4283,895Decrease2.svg -54%
9 Lexus ES -----2173,8183,699Decrease2.svg -3%
10 Jaguar XF 20,41420,60916,41616,02412,50110,3755,9352,450Decrease2.svg -59%
11 BMW 6 Series 8,5497,8807,3705,7325,61010,7035,3622,060Decrease2.svg -62%
12 Maserati Ghibli 3394,2384,6444,1242,9812,5341,7231,006Decrease2.svg -42%
13 Polestar Polestar 1 ------065New
14 Infiniti Q70 33914556048436264214Decrease2.svg -81%
15 Lexus GS 1,9222,0321,3732,0231,5081,0661631Decrease2.svg -99%
16 Genesis G80 -163228131493090Decrease2.svg -100%
BMW 8 Series -----1,299(moved to F-Segment)
Volvo V70 / XC70 40,26046,34849,26330,43651121(replaced by V90 Series)
Chrysler/Lancia 300C/Thema 2,23639228191612
Segment total402,673394,931389,184366,603422,525415,757363,131246,181Decrease2.svg -32%
Source [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Notes:

1. The table includes not only E-segment cars, but also a car fitting the F-segment in terms of size (the 2011 Chrysler 300).

2. Our source of information initial include BMW 8 Series in E-segment, but latter moved to F-segment.

Market share in Europe

2019 - Sales of large cars in Europe were down 13% in 2019 to 362,300 units, a new record low annual volume for this class, which now accounts for 2.3% of the total European car market, down from 2.7% in 2018. [18]

2020 - The large cars segment in Europe is down 32% in 2020, to just over 246,000 deliveries. This means the segment loses ground on the overall market again and now accounts for just 2.1% of the total European car market, down from 2.3% in 2019. With the exception of a newcomer, the entire top-8, which accounts for nearly 91% of the segment’s sales, drops by 29% or more and thus falls behind the overall market. Only one single model in the class manages to keep its decline limited to single digits. [19]

See also

Notes

  1. Also, the American full-size sedan classification does not have any equivalent in the European classification with the exception of full-size luxury cars which belong to the F-segment. As European segments denote both size and equipment level, American full-size cars that are not luxury cars simply do not belong to any of the European segments. Considering length only, they would always fall into the F-segment or even exceed its dimensions - with a possible exception of the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima which may or may not be short enough to be considered E-segment (this is as of 2021).

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References

  1. "Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure" (PDF). www.europa.eu.
  2. "Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN" (PDF). www.europa.eu. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2013.
  3. "Latest Safety Ratings". www.euroncap.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
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  8. "Newcomer in der oberen Mittelklasse: Toyota Camry". 14 November 1991.
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  11. "European sales 2014 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  12. "European sales 2015 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  13. "European sales 2016 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  14. "European sales 2017 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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  16. "European sales 2019 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  17. "European sales 2020 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  18. "European sales 2019 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  19. "European sales 2020 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.