The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It was the successor to the 2002 coupe. The 3 Series was for some time the smallest car line manufactured by BMW (exempting the BMW-owned MINI), although that place was in 2004 taken by the 1 Series. The 3 Series is BMW's best selling automobile, accounting for nearly 40% of all automobiles sold by the company in 2005. Its main competitors are Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Saab 9-3, and Audi A4. .The 3 Series is the best selling foreign luxury sedan in the United States — 98,000 vehicles were sold in 2005.