BMW beats Mercedes for the first time in US this year

Deliveries of the X3 and X5 sport utility vehicles climbed 43% and 35% last month, respectively, pacing BMW

 NEW YORK: BMW AG topped its rival in the US luxury auto market for the first time this year, eeking out a monthly sales gain and gaining ground on Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz.

Deliveries of the X3 and X5 sport utility vehicles climbed 43% and 35% last month, respectively, pacing BMW’s total sales of 31,015 vehicles. The Munich-based automaker outsold Mercedes by about 1,900 units in March.