- In 2014, segment D accounted for 13% of the European car market, a volume of 1.6 million units, up 3,5% compared to 2013. In 2013 , the BMW 3 Series (192 000 sales) was far ahead of his two challengers the Volkswagen Passat (163 000 sales) and Skoda Octavia (150 000 sales).

- What about 2014? In 2014, there was a new leader in this trio. Indeed, the Skoda Octavia with 179 000 sales beat the BMW 3 Series (162 000 sales) and the Volkswagen Passat (159 000 sales). The Octavia is for the first time the best selling  D segment sedan in Europe.

- Why is the Skoda Octavia the leader? The Volkswagen group vehicle benefited from three favourable circumstances:

1.The 20% sales increase, for a product which reached the mature level of its life cycle (launched in December 2012)

2.A slight sales decline of the VW Passat that reached the end of its life cycle before being replaced by the end of 2014.

3.But also thanks to a redefinition of the BMW 3 Series range. In fact, the manufacturer has decided to create a new segment D family, the 4 Series, which includes the old Series 3 coupes and convertibles by adding a 5-door lowered sedan (called Gran Coupe). Hence, the 3 Series lost some of its volume in favour of the coupes and convertibles newly named Series 4 (52 000 sales), although BMW also added a GT version, a sort of intermediary between a sedan and an estate. If we consider the Series 3 and 4 as a range, sales actually exceed those of the Skoda Octavia (214 000 against 179 000 sales sales).

- In 2015, it is forecasted that the new VW Passat will again become the D segment leader with its recent launch and its many benefits that bring it closer to Premium cars for a lower selling price than the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C.

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