Popular Luxury Car Brands | Top 15

The online popularity of the best luxury car brands in the world is a reliable predictor of future sales and the trends that are shaping the global automobile industry. Every luxury car brand on our list commands significant customer attention and drives meaningful conversations on social media. They are at the forefront of what matters to affluent consumers.

Powered by consumers’ demand for sustainable driving experiences and stricter emission regulations, electric cars are the most important trend affecting the global automobile industry this year. Luxury electric vehicles (EVs) are getting more and more exciting to drive with the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S Plaid coming out this year. Electric cars are also enjoying a longer range and growing charging station networks around the world.

Digitalization is the second most important trend reshaping the car industry in 2021. Connected cars, autonomous vehicles, and the ever-growing size of digital screens inside the cars are three important areas of investments for manufacturers. Luxury car brands are at the forefront of the digital transformation of our driving experience. The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS is a prime example of digital innovation brought front and center in the cockpit to enhance the driver’s experience.

The global luxury car industry is a growing market, projected to reach $665 billion by 2027. While German car manufacturers dominate the top of our list with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, the United States is fast catching up with Tesla. Japan only has one brand in the top 15 with Lexus, the premium offshoot of Toyota. The rest of our ranking is filled by other European brands from Sweden (Volvo), Italy (Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Maserati), the United Kingdom (Land Rover and Jaguar), and France (Bugatti).

This is the first year that we apply our rigorous online popularity ranking to the car market, but the methodology has proven its usefulness with our list of the best luxury brands online.

The 15 Most Popular Luxury Car Brands Online 2021

Rank	Brand	Country
1	BMW	Germany
2	Mercedes-Benz	Germany
3	Audi	Germany
4	Tesla	United States
5	Porsche	Germany
6	Lexus	Japan
7	Volvo	Sweden
8	Lamborghini	Italy
9	Ferrari	Italy
10	Land Rover	United Kingdom
11	Jaguar	United Kingdom
12	Cadillac	United States
13	Rolls-Royce	United Kingdom
14	Maserati	Italy
15	Bugatti	France

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) is the most popular luxury automobile brand online, taking a 22.8% share of the search interest in 2021 with a range of news-worthy moves that have consistently kept it in conversation. The brand’s shift to luxury electric vehicles has certainly helped to drive attention, especially with the announcement of BMW’s New Class electric-focused platform, which arrives in 2025. m

The German luxury car brand is also keeping its name at the forefront of the industry with the arrival of its highly anticipated BMW M3 and M4 as well as the upcoming fully electric iX model. 

The brand’s electric motors are rumored to rival Tesla. And, as always, the brand’s ever-evolving tech contributes towards its consistent market share. By 2023, BMW expects to almost double its number of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models to 25.

The luxury automotive division of The Daimler Group, Mercedes-Benz takes the second spot on our list of the most popular luxury car brands online and is the most valuable luxury automotive brand in 2021.

Redefining new-age luxury with a range of battery-powered supercars, Mercedes-Benz has kept its position close to the top thanks to its consistent attention to detail and never-faltering breakneck technology speeds. 

Mercedes-Benz’s EQ battery-electric car lineup has been the subject of attention for the last three years, with a particular focus over the last 12 months thanks to the lineup’s approaching release. It’s set to be the first model based on the German automaker’s dedicated Electric Vehicle Architecture, fusing style and substance in a way that only Mercedes-Benz knows how. The brand’s push to add more EV production facilities across the US leads us to anticipate big things in the coming future.

All eyes have been on Audi’s innovative technology, from the brand’s new Tesla-fighting electric sports car to photographers capturing footage of the long-awaited Audi Q9. Breaking into the electric vehicle market has been a priority for the German luxury car manufacturer in the last few years and, alongside the rumors surrounding the Q9, Audi has edged closer to the top as it elevates its status into the forefront of the E-vehicle industry. The brand even announced a partnership with Amazon to let its customers purchase high-power electric charging stations at home from the e-commerce giant.

More recently, Audi’s also capitalized on sales of its e-Tron SUV and e-Tron Sportbacks. The lack of recent competition from neighboring Tesla (while the brand relaunches its models) has offered space in the industry for Audi to rush to the forefront. The brand hopes to unveil its Audi e-Tron GT this summer, rivaling luxury car manufacturers with its 15.5% share of search interest.

Tesla’s cult-like following ensures it sticks around in conversations year after year and, as of 2021, it’s number one in online popularity in the U.S. market. Founded in July 2003, Tesla remains the highest valued carmaker in the world and its rising stock prices, thanks to the brand’s “home run” of sales in the first quarter of 2021, promise a positive outlook overall. Tesla produced 180,338 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021 alone through its global production expansion across China and Europe. 

CEO Elon Musk has also, as always, done his bit to keep Tesla not only popular with industry experts but also with the wider public, thanks to a number of viral social media posts. Mostly recently he garnered attention for announcing 10,000 new jobs in Texas, no college degree or completed high school education necessary.