• The Detroit Bureau, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 11:50 AM

For the first time ever, two German carmakers, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are dueling for the honor of being the top luxury brand in the United States. Lexus, Toyota’s high-line marque, has held the title for the past several years. But it is expected to surrender the title as the best-selling luxury brand in the U.S. — the world’s largest market for expensive cars – due to production cuts resulting from the March earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.

BMW currently holds a slight lead but Mercedes-Benz’s sales in the U.S. surged during November, climbing more than 40%. Sales of BMW-brand vehicles increased only 7%, leaving it clinging to slender lead of less than 2,000 vehicles.

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