The market success of the MINI continues unabated. Since the launch of this cult car in summer 2001, demand has always outstripped the supply available. The plant in Oxford is therefore being expanded to an annual capacity of around 240,000 units in the medium term. Production at the plant had to be interrupted between mid-December 2005 and mid-January 2006 because of the building works required for this.
This is the reason for the current delivery bottlenecks and the resultant decline in deliveries by 10.0% to 12,214 units (prev.yr.: 13,567) in February 2006. For the year to February, 27,757 MINIs left the dealerships (prev.yr.: 30,565/-9.2%).
(Source: MINI Press)
I believe, some of this could also be due to the 2007 cars around the corner… I already have a deposit in on a 2007 at Lauderdale Mini.
I also believe that right at the end of the 2006 run (when the 2007 come out) there will be some good bargins around in eastern US (you will have to take what they have left).
Just my thoughts,
I wouldn’t be on bargains later this year. Supply will be very limited on coupes so prices will probably remain at MSRP.
This is good marketing strategy, squeeze the supply as the model runs out instead of flooding the market. I agree with gabe, I don’t think we’ll see bargain MINIs just yet.
As we all know in the Motor trade, there are always peaks and troughs in sales of cars. When a new model is introduced demand exceeds supply and then drops off as the market is satisfied. That’s why facelifts and new models are introduced. As well, production volume wears out tooling, jigs and assembly equipment.
The exceptions to this were the old VW Beetle and old Classic Mini where 40 years-plus model life were achieved with one body shape with slight improvements and modifications. Chances are is that this will never happen again with any car model.
With any product, where demand exceeds supply the price people are prepared to pay is set by their own desire.