Update: BMW announced January 5 that US sales totaled 247,907 throughout 2011, beating Mercedes-Benz to the top spot by just 2,715 vehicles.

In a first, two German manufacturers — Mercedes-Benz and BMW — are dueling for the honor of being the top luxury brand sold in the United States.

Right now, BMW holds a slight lead, but US sales for Mercedes surged in November, climbing more than 40 percent.

Sales of BMWs rose only seven percent, leaving it clinging to a slender lead of only 1,500 units for the year.

The latest figures from the companies show BMW has sold 221,073 vehicles so far this year, while Mercedes has sold 219,491.

The champion of the past 11 years, Toyota’s Lexus, was hobbled by the fallout from Japan’s March 11 earthquake-tsunami-nuclear meltdown disaster.