E-Segment is a niche in Europe (2-3% penetration in 2010s). As of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, E-segment sales account for 2.7%, 2.7%, 2.3% and 2.1% market share in Europe respectively.[4][5][6][7]
Most E-segment cars are sedans/saloons, however several models are also produced in other body styles such as wagons/estates. As of 2021 E-segment cars typically have a length of approx. 4.8m to 5m.
The terms E-segment or executive car do not have a one-to-one equivalent in the American car classification. However, if a modern E-segment sedan by a European brand is sold in the U.S., it falls into the category of both mid-size and full-size sedan, usually a mid-size luxury sedan.
The American mid-size sedan classification[note 1] spans both the D-segment and the E-segment. With size brackets of European car segments increasing, the Toyota Camry fell from the E-segment[8] into the D-segment while remaining a mid-size car.
2019 - Sales of large cars in Europe were down 13% in 2019 to 362,300 units, a new record low annual volume for this class, which now accounts for 2.3% of the total European car market, down from 2.7% in 2018.
[18]
2020 - The large cars segment in Europe is down 32% in 2020, to just over 246,000 deliveries. This means the segment loses ground on the overall market again and now accounts for just 2.1% of the total European car market, down from 2.3% in 2019. With the exception of a newcomer, the entire top-8, which accounts for nearly 91% of the segment’s sales, drops by 29% or more and thus falls behind the overall market. Only one single model in the class manages to keep its decline limited to single digits.
[19]
^Also, the American full-size sedan classification does not have any equivalent in the European classification with the exception of full-size luxury cars which belong to the F-segment. As European segments denote both size and equipment level, American full-size cars that are not luxury cars simply do not belong to any of the European segments. Considering length only, they would always fall into the F-segment or even exceed its dimensions - with a possible exception of the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima which may or may not be short enough to be considered E-segment (this is as of 2021).
-35%
+1553%
