Worldwide MINI Sales Down for February

Sections: Official News | Sales Mar 9th, 2013 24 Comments

Official Release: The MINI brand reported 18,527 cars delivered worldwide in February (prev. yr. 20,021/-7.5%). In the first two months of the year, 34,391 MINI cars were delivered to customers (prev. yr. 35,789 / -3.9%). The MINI Countryman climbed to 13,645 cars, an increase of 9.6% compared to the same period last year (prev. yr. 12,448). The launch of the MINI Paceman in mid-March is expected to bring further momentum to global sales for the brand.

Overall the BMW Group sold 133,630 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles (+4.7% / prev. yr. 127,638) making February its best-eversales result. A record number of 256,929 (prev. yr. 239,802) vehicles have been delivered to customers since the start of the year – an increase of +7.1% compared with the same period last year.

Written By: Gabe

geolchris

As those of us who ordered cars in December and January came to find out through the forums – MINI plant Oxford was shut down from Dec 21 to Jan 21 – that could be a good reason for a decline in deliveries. It would be interesting to see if there was a corresponding drop in orders or not for the same period. I’d bet not.
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  BMW Group Plants close every year at roughly that time and once again in August. This is nothing new.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Smith/1742553353 Mark Smith
    
    They also were prepping production lines for the start of preproduction F56′s and slightly cut Clubman production as a result.
http://www.facebook.com/scamper Scamper Robinson

We’re, some of us, waiting for something smaller than recent offerings. Maybe something that begins with F and ends with 56.
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  The F56 will not be smaller than the R56. Our understanding is that it will be lighter, but our old friend EU pedestrian impact standards will see the F56′s dimensions pushed by a mm or three on the nose of the car. It will be imperceptible aside from a new shape, but if you are thinking the F56 will be the Rocketman, it simply isn’t so. It will be the same size it is now for all intensive purposes.
  - Hunter
    
    If Scamper is like me, he meant that we’ve been waiting in vain to see the F56 (or anything resembling it). I, for one, am tired of all the silly “special editions” and Countrymen and Pacemen and variations thereof. I want to see something new, and I was hoping it would happen at Geneva, but I was subsequently disappointed. Life goes on…
    - BimmerFile_Michael
      
      Official reveal to the public should be at the LA autoshow with an internet release before then.
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      Internet very late summer.
      
      via mobile
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      I definitely get that sentiment. I’m pretty much over the special editions too.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Smith/1742553353 Mark Smith
      
      Hunter think about this? Why would MINI want to overshadow the release of the Paceman? That’s where their money is right now. To reveal the F56 now would hurt R56 sales and we have to survive at least another 11 months until we see the F56 in the flesh my friend. MINI is very strategic in their decisions. I am not saying I don’t side with you however myself being a Motoring Advisor I have to side with what they have done so far.
    - Hunter
      
      Because we’ve already seen the Paceman for what seems like centuries. Also, I disagree on the lack of sales part, since I knowingly and willingly bought my 2006 R53 (ordered in Jan/Feb, delivered Mar 4) because I didn’t (and still don’t really) care for the look, direction of the forthcoming R56. I have never regretted that decision. Also, the Convertible, Clubman, Roadster and Coupe will be continuing with that generation/bodystyle/front end for a while regardless.
  - http://twitter.com/matthewwanderer matthew
    
    “EU pedestrian impact standards will see the F56′s dimensions pushed by a mm or three on the nose of the car.”
    
    Where do smaller builds like the Ford Ka and the Smart fit into this dynamic that is often cited in regard to the size of the MINI hatchback? Both are examples of smaller cars.
    
    Thanks.
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      In the case of the Smart, the engine is in the rear, so that helps soften the front a lot. The Ka has a longer front overhang than the MINI, which also helps. If you look back to the R50/53, then forward through the R56, you can see that front overhang grow slightly, and in the F56, it may grow again. This growth is only really noticeable on the MINI because it started with such small front overhangs. Were it a more conventionally shaped car, there’d be no bother over it and it would have less of an impact on the look of the car. The increased front overhang is designed to put more distance between the bendable sheet metal of the bonnet and the unforgiving top of the engine (and other factors). If it were up to MINI, they’d keep that overhang small because that’s better for turn-in and handling. They could do this, but they’d have to add other active systems such as a pop-up bonnet or external airbags to meet the impact standard, which adds weight and complexity. So obviously, it’s a balancing act. What also has to be kept in mind is that in Europe, pedestrian impacts account for a very significant number of traffic deaths each year. It’s easy to dismiss this as survival of the fittest at work, but it’s more complicated than that. It’s a much more on-foot culture than we have here in the states, so our frame of reference is very different. Only so much of it can be accounted for with signage, etc.
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      The biggest reason that MINI can’t build a smaller car is the costs associated with developing an entirely new smaller platform. Even Ford couldn’t afford to design and build one on its own. Instead they had to partner with Fiat who uses the platform for a number of cars (one being the 500).
    - John McLauchlan
      
      MINI was looking for a dance partner to share platforms and development costs. Toyota? Did that fall through?
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      BMW has a partnership with Toyota, but the exact nature of it, and whether it means a smaller MINI/iQ, is purely speculative at this point.
Frank Granados

It seems that it rains and snows more around BMW/MINI dealerships lately…
wetwolf

still waiting on the seesaw rumors of the Diesel and the look of the F56. More importantly together, the F56 SD. If the rumor is false, then the VW GTD will get a serious look.
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  Chances are the diesel will only show up in the Countryman / Paceman in the USA simply because the mpg on the F56 will already be really high.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Smith/1742553353 Mark Smith
    
    You’re right on the money with what I’ve read as well Nathaniel.
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      Or something else entirely.
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      The plot thickens.
    - wetwolf
      
      Don’t want a hybrid or anything else with Li-Ion or any other $$$ batteries…..
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      BMW is aiming for a lifetime or close warranty on batteries with they’re current and upcoming range of hybrids. And they believe plugin hybrids and full electric represents the future if batteries in cars. Not that either will be in MINIs soon.

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