-Since the start of the 2000s, D segment saloon cars and station wagons made by general manufacturers have continually lost ground. From 1.74 million units produced in Europe in 2001, the production volume has gradually fallen to 680 000 units in 2012 (constituting a 60% drop in eleven years), with the main models concerned being the Renault Laguna (down 90%), the Ford Mondeo (down 80%), the Citroën C5 (down 75%), the Peugeot 406/407/508 (down 50%), and the Toyota Avensis (down 45%). The Volkswagen Passat seems to have held up better, but in spite of everything, its production volume fell 40% over eleven years.

-The main reasons for this:

-D segment saloon cars are being attacked by the most recent C segment cars,which provide services (fittings, safetyfeatures, etc.) close to the higher segment.

-The increase in sales of other vehicle body types in the D segment like MPVs, SUVs and crossovers.

-Although in 2001 general manufacturers dominated in this category, they have been much more adversely affected since then and from 2007 onwards were displaced by premium manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo) whose sales in this segment stabilised.

-As the difference is increasing fromyear to year, it is by no means certain that D segment vehicles manufactured by general manufacturers can survive in the long term.