Comments on: Worldwide MINI Sales Down 12% Year to Date

By: MotoringFile » Archive » MINI USA Sales Likely to Drop Significantly?

MotoringFile » Archive » MINI USA Sales Likely to Drop Significantly? — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:50:13 +0000

[...] few months of MINI worldwide sales have told a very different story than the US market. With the UK down 40% for October and the Oxford Plant shut down for the holiday season early, it would appear that the [...]

By: RayCee

RayCee — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:50:42 +0000

MINI Europe sales up to October 2008 are ahead 6% to 128,000 (ACEA). When you think that Europe isn’t much larger in sales than the US, then market penetration is almost three times higher. The US still has much potential for MINI on that basis.

By: C4

C4 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:55:36 +0000

Yes, but MINI sales are a drop in the bucket compared to that of the major league dogs.

Still, the MINI is the right product at the right time and BMWUSA should pat themeselves on the back from bringing this car at a time when gas was cheap, SUVs ruled the sales charts and no one believed that "Small"and "Cool"would ever set the US automotive landscape on fire.

The US market is definetely driving MINI sales. However MINI needs to continue to improve the product and lower admission prices.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:57:50 +0000

Indeed Matt, actually many manufactures out there that looks at this data drooling these days. As for you wording Matt think it was spot on!

By: Dr Obnxs

Dr Obnxs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:27:11 +0000

Still, this is a growth rate that Chrysler, GM or Ford would die to have....

Sorry for the poor choice of words...

Matt

By: Robert Wintner

Robert Wintner — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:03:34 +0000

Mini dealers in the USA have had either low or no inventory of key models for months–with months more to go. Anybody want a Mini ragtop with a current drive train? The first rule of retail is that you can’t sell from an empty cart. So Mini sales are down. Duh. What was your first clue?

By: Mk1

Mk1 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:32:10 +0000

Yes, I’d guess the lower sales in the European market are due to a lot of head-to-head in the small car space. Europe has a ton of cars in that space we never see in the U.S., and most of those manufactures were quick to design/build models to compete with the MINI.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:01:50 +0000

Mini has been having some issues at home with their sales figures and have been loosing some ground in many other pars of Europe also (along with every other brand).

The last time I saw the English figures they showed a slowdown. I am sure this is a two part causation,first the economic slowdown hasn't helped anyone, also with more direct completion think they have lost a tiny bit of market share. It does make me wonder if this is part of the reason for the production of the R60, since Mini's classical area of prime small cars is having other builders successfully building tough competition for its current market.

Having said all that still think Mini is much better off than most brands at this point.

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:17:50 +0000

Wow! So looking at how good USA figures are, there must be some huge downturns in other countries!