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

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 about 4.8 to 5 m ft 1.

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

See also:

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)
1Mercedes-BenzE-Class106,55999,56584,77199,494127,638117,906107,45370,171-35%
2BMW5 Series107,30798,70188,89881,599109,953108,65389,32659,814-33%
3AudiA6 / S6 / RS6 / A6 allroad quattro82,88384,28395,32993,47978,94471,25883,01255,737-33%
4VolvoS90 / V90---10,83455,19356,19240,31523,578-42%
5PorscheTaycan------74612,332+1553%
6AudiAudi A7 / S7 / RS78,9868,47310,1969,1206,1118,9358,1855,807-29%
7TeslaModel S3,9118,84115,16911,56416,02617,3868,6355,562-36%
8Mercedes-BenzCLS-Class15,13910,28912,6007,8035,1169,1138,4283,895-54%
9LexusES-----2173,8183,699-3%
10JaguarXF20,41420,60916,41616,02412,50110,3755,9352,450-59%
11BMW6 Series8,5497,8807,3705,7325,61010,7035,3622,060-62%
12MaseratiGhibli3394,2384,6444,1242,9812,5341,7231,006-42%
13PolestarPolestar 1------065New
14InfinitiQ7033914556048436264214-81%
15LexusGS1,9222,0321,3732,0231,5081,0661631-99%
16GenesisG80-163228131493090-100%
BMW8 Series-----1,299(moved to F-Segment)
VolvoV70 / XC7040,26046,34849,26330,43651121(replaced by V90 Series)
Chrysler/Lancia300C/Thema2,23639228191612
Segment total402,673394,931389,184366,603422,525415,757363,131246,181-32%
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).

References

  1. ^ "Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure". www.europa.eu
  2. ^ "Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN". www.europa.eu. p. 8. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Latest Safety Ratings". www.euroncap.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ "European sales 2017 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ "European sales 2018 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "European sales 2019 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ "European sales 2020 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Newcomer in der oberen Mittelklasse: Toyota Camry". 14 November 1991.
  9. ^ "European sales 2020 Large cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. ^ "European sales 2013 Premium large car segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  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.
  15. ^ "European sales 2018 Premium Large segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  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. Archived from the original on 13 February 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. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.