MINI has recently announced that they can see the US market outselling the UK market.
>Perhaps trying to give its new, second generation MINI Copper sales a shot in the arm, MINI announced that they could see the US overtaking the UK as MINI’s number one market. At the Detroit Auto Show, MINI of North America vice-president Jim McDowell described the US as being on the fast track.
So far, more than 20% of all MINIs have been sold in the US.
[ US to Overtake UK as #1 Consumer of Minis ] Autoblog
…it was just only a matter of time before it would happen.
…however;the news is still a nice,”gift”,to get on this MLK,Jr. day. Thanks again,for the great work,Gabe.
My only concern would be that BMW/MINI might try to “Americanize” the MINI to suit the USA market. That would be a terrible mistake if you ask me. It would certainly turn me off. Even if the US was the dominant market. It has sold as well as it has just because it is what it is and I hope that they understand that and do not spoil a good thing.
Then perhaps there would be more dealers in the US and I wouldn’t have to drive 200 miles for service.
Bilbo,
MINIUSA in many ways has already “Americanized” the MINI up to this point… by limiting and restricting some of the OEM options available to us. It maddens me to no end that fantastic features such as the power folding rear mirrors and the Navigation cameras have been kept out of our market… and Americans are VERY well known for loving gadgets and being willing to pay for them! It doesn’t make sense.
(Yes, I know that the power folding mirrors will be available now in the R56. A day late, a dollar short, IMO)
Not really an odd thing to happened given the population differences between the countries and the fact that America is the home of the car!
It is interesting that such a small car has become a huge hit in America where larger cars tend to reign supreme – but I suppose that is the beauty and the lure of the Mini! The UK has gone mad for US style 4×4’s over the past 5 years with the likes of the X5 etc so perhaps the International car market as a whole is becoming more regular. I could imagine that the Mini is popular in big US cities where like the majority of European cities there are numerous advantages to having a small car.
I also hope more dealerships open up, or maybe more service centers.
This is an interesting article. In December 2000 MINIUSA invited a small group of classic Mini owners to bring their cars to park in front of the location where they held a motor journalist press conference. I was one of the lucky ones to be invited, so I drove my 68 Woody up to Detroit from the Dayton area along with a group who trailered their cars. I distinctly recall two of the MINUSA execs telling the press conference that MINI’s intention was to limit US sales to no more than 20,000/year in order to preserve its exclusivity. What a change!
Yes, the last time they tried to Americanize old BMC cars like MGB and Triumph by putting those horrible big plastic bumpers on them and then pulling out of the market due to safety regs.
But full credit to the USA MINI people and you owners for taking to the car so willingly. Us in the Antipodies have cherished old Mini and new MINI since 1959 non-stop.
We hope MINI has a green card for life!
BMW has deep pockets and has little need to resort to cheap fixes as did BMC. The R56 and R55 should only consolidate their position for the remainder of the decade. I have little doubt that sales of MINI should continue upward. I think that I read that MINI has pre-sold 26,000 in the U.S. this year???