Audi vs BMW:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BMW had more branded searches than Audi among luxury car brands worldwide. BMW had about 9.1 million branded searches, while Audi had 4.1 million. BMW made up 21.8% of all luxury car brand searches we track, and Audi accounted for 9.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about luxury car brands, BMW appeared in all five answers and Audi in four. BMW was mentioned before Audi in every answer.
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Top luxury car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BMW appeared in all five answers. Audi was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. BMW was listed before Audi in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
BMW5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Mercedes-Benz5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lexus5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Porsche4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Audi4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Rolls-Royce4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Genesis3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Bentley3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Volvo2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Acura2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about luxury car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which luxury car brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best luxury car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best luxury car brand for comfortable driving?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“luxury car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“premium car brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Audi or BMW more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Audi and BMW by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 luxury car brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for BMW, Audi. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | BMW | Mercedes-Benz | Porsche | Audi | Jaguar | Lexus | Volvo | Genesis | Rolls-Royce | Land Rover | Bentley | Acura |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 21.6% | 19.9% | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.6% | 21.9% | 13.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.4% | 21.6% | 13% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 21.8% | 20.1% | 12% | 9.8% | 8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 21.6% | 19.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 22.9% | 21.1% | 12.7% | 10.3% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 20% | 22.3% | 13.4% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 7.3% | 6% | 4% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 19.7% | 22.1% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 4% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.5% | 20.6% | 12.3% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 6.8% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 3% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.6% | 20.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 4.5% | 6.8% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.8% | 20% | 12% | 9.8% | 5.4% | 8% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2% |
| Sep 2026 | 21.8% | 20% | 11.9% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
How has the Audi and BMW comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BMW was ahead of Audi in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Audi’s share of searches among luxury car brands worldwide moved from 9.7% to 9.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5M to 4.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BMW’s share of searches among luxury car brands worldwide moved from 21.6% to 21.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.1M to 9.1M.
How did search popularity change for luxury car brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Audi’s and BMW’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among luxury car brands
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