Official Release: Sales of the MINI brand were 19.1% lower in May than for the same month last year (22,685) at 18,348 units; for the year to the end of May, 79,260 MINI (prev.yr.: 102,364 / -22.6%) vehicles were delivered to customers. In Germany, MINI increased its sales volume by 11.8% (3,569 / prev.yr.: 3,193) in the month under review. The brand made gains in countries such as China (350 / +48.9%), New Zealand (26 / +30,9%), Malaysia (20 / +33,3%) and Switzerland (447 / +0.2%). 25,000
MINI fans from around the world celebrated the brand’s 50th birthday at the MINI United Festival at the Silverstone racetrack in the U.K. from 22-24 May 2009. Two new jubilee models, which will join the model range in September, were also part of the Silverstone line-up. There is a choice of two petrol engines or a diesel engine for both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden which will be launched in September 2009. Production of the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden will begin exactly 50 years after the classic Mini was officially released, and will be limited to one year.
<p>Yes Timothy, but look at the percentage increases in some of the countries – Pretty impressive.
Consider that GM, Chrysler, and others are down by more than 19% – So on the whole, I’d say MINI is doing very well in this environment.</p>
<p>Well… the big percent increases mean that New Zealand and Malaysia bought 5 or 6 more cars. The increase in Germany and China is good — but also highlights how bad it must have been everwhere else for an overall loss of 19% despite those gains.</p>
<p>All-in-all, I agree, however, that things are not good BUT they’re not as bad as they are for other manufactures… heck, even toyota was hurting by more in May.</p>
<p>The increased sales in Germany and Switzerland are also due to the new convertible sold since spring this year. Furthermore in 2009 the German state pays you 2500 euros if you trade your old car (9+ years) for a new one that meets some environmental criteria. The numbers may look different in absence of these facts.</p>
<p>While the MINI numbers are less devistating than pretty much all the other brands, keep in mind that some of this advantage was bought with really low interest rates and other mechanisms that MINI had never done before.</p>
<p>Volvo has had horrendous numbers, but some of that was caused by stopping leasing programs, making their decline look worse than the other brands.</p>
<p>RE: just for a lark, I surfed the MINI Malaysia website (www.mini.my)to see what MINIs go for there – and the answer is a heartstopper!</p>
<p>you have to download the PDF’s of each model to see the pricing, but this is what they are going for:</p>
<p>Cooper – RM$195,290 – US$55,498
Cooper S – RM$239,290 – US$67,972
Clubman – RM$225,290 – US$63,934
Clubman S – RM$259,290 – US$73,582</p>
<p>(US prices based on the June 8 exchange rates)</p>
<p>On the plus side, 3 year/50k km TLC there is only $RM888, or US$252, which is an amazing deal if it wasn’t for how much you have to pay for the cars to begin with!</p>
<p>Mind you, looks like the MINIs there come fully loaded, with every option in those prices, but still, when you take into consideration that RM$1 there is like CDN$1 or US$1 here in North America in terms of the locals earning power there, that is an insane amount of money to pay to buy a MINI – amazing that they manage to sell 20 at all!</p>
<p>As a point of comparison, I also looked to see what Malaysia’s own Proton cars (who own Lotus, btw) go for – <a href="http://www.proton-edar.com.my/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.proton-edar.com.my/</a> – their lowest cost car starts at $RM34,000, so that give a point of comparison to what the MINI is considered there.</p>
<p>I think we are pretty fortunate here in the US and Canada for what we pay for our MINIs!</p>
<p>MillieTheMini, bear in mind the imposition of very high import duties make owning a non Malaysian made car somewhat expensive. Import duties run to as high as 300%</p>
<p>You know it’s bad when the PR flack says that MINI sold a whopping 20 cars in Malaysia.</p>
<p>Yes Timothy, but look at the percentage increases in some of the countries – Pretty impressive.
Consider that GM, Chrysler, and others are down by more than 19% – So on the whole, I’d say MINI is doing very well in this environment.</p>
<p>Well… the big percent increases mean that New Zealand and Malaysia bought 5 or 6 more cars. The increase in Germany and China is good — but also highlights how bad it must have been everwhere else for an overall loss of 19% despite those gains.</p>
<p>All-in-all, I agree, however, that things are not good BUT they’re not as bad as they are for other manufactures… heck, even toyota was hurting by more in May.</p>
<p>The increased sales in Germany and Switzerland are also due to the new convertible sold since spring this year. Furthermore in 2009 the German state pays you 2500 euros if you trade your old car (9+ years) for a new one that meets some environmental criteria. The numbers may look different in absence of these facts.</p>
<p>If MINI sold zero cars in Sri Lanka last May and one car in Sri Lanka this May, that would be an infinite growth rate!</p>
<p>See, isn’t MINI PR easy?</p>
<p>While the MINI numbers are less devistating than pretty much all the other brands, keep in mind that some of this advantage was bought with really low interest rates and other mechanisms that MINI had never done before.</p>
<p>Volvo has had horrendous numbers, but some of that was caused by stopping leasing programs, making their decline look worse than the other brands.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>This is one of the rare times when USA sales dragged down the worldwide numbers [<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2009/06/02/mini-usa-sales-down-27-for-may/" rel="nofollow">MINI USA Sales Down 27% for May</a>].</p>
<p>RE: just for a lark, I surfed the MINI Malaysia website (www.mini.my)to see what MINIs go for there – and the answer is a heartstopper!</p>
<p>you have to download the PDF’s of each model to see the pricing, but this is what they are going for:</p>
<p>Cooper – RM$195,290 – US$55,498
Cooper S – RM$239,290 – US$67,972
Clubman – RM$225,290 – US$63,934
Clubman S – RM$259,290 – US$73,582</p>
<p>(US prices based on the June 8 exchange rates)</p>
<p>On the plus side, 3 year/50k km TLC there is only $RM888, or US$252, which is an amazing deal if it wasn’t for how much you have to pay for the cars to begin with!</p>
<p>Mind you, looks like the MINIs there come fully loaded, with every option in those prices, but still, when you take into consideration that RM$1 there is like CDN$1 or US$1 here in North America in terms of the locals earning power there, that is an insane amount of money to pay to buy a MINI – amazing that they manage to sell 20 at all!</p>
<p>As a point of comparison, I also looked to see what Malaysia’s own Proton cars (who own Lotus, btw) go for – <a href="http://www.proton-edar.com.my/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.proton-edar.com.my/</a> – their lowest cost car starts at $RM34,000, so that give a point of comparison to what the MINI is considered there.</p>
<p>I think we are pretty fortunate here in the US and Canada for what we pay for our MINIs!</p>
<p>MillieTheMini, bear in mind the imposition of very high import duties make owning a non Malaysian made car somewhat expensive. Import duties run to as high as 300%</p>
<p>300% import duties!!! Wow, our government could learn from the Malaysians!!!</p>
<p>The 2010 mid-life “facelift” could not come soon enough to the rapidly stale R56.</p>