MINI USA to Expand Dealer Network by 20%
MINI USA has confirmed its intention to expand its 83-strong American dealer network by 20 percent during the next 18 months to a total of 100 outlets across the country.
Most of the additional 17 MINI dealerships will be located in cities or areas that will be new markets for the brand.
Speaking at a New York City meeting, MINI USA Vice President Jim McDowell revealed: “Starting in 2011, our aim is to raise MINI sales by a ‘double-digit’ percentage compared with last year’s total of 54,077 cars delivered and this will correspond with a substantial expansion of our network coverage.
“We are celebrating a major landmark for MINI this year, its 50th Birthday, and we are pleased to announce plans for another significant milestone for the brand – the development of our national dealer network to 100 outlets,†he added.
“We are pleased to be in a position to dramatically increase our U.S. dealerships. I have often said that the world is becoming more MINI every day, and I believe that that sentiment is true, now more than ever, as consumer tastes shift decidedly to cars that offer tremendous value. Our cars are not only fuel efficient, and offer great value, but they also provide a fun and dynamic motoring experience and are packed with personality.â€
The first of the new dealers to become operational this year will be MINI of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. Speaking of the dealership’s appointment to the MINI USA network, General Manager Mark Gerloff said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to represent such a stylish and iconic brand in Alabama, and be given the opportunity to bring the unique attributes and heritage of MINI to our customers.â€
In addition to Birmingham, Alabama, MINI will open dealerships in the following cities: Pensacola, Florida; Alexandria, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Fort Myers, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Ontario, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Loveland, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Mount Laurel, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California and Tempe, Arizona.
Industry sales in the US this year have recorded a 37 percent decline through May, but MINI continues to outperform its competition and its market share continues to increase despite a sales decline over 2008.
<p><em>sigh</em>…</p>
<p>Alexandria folks aren’t motivated enough to drive out to Sterling? Madison residents just can’t find their way over to Milwaukee? It’s just too much of a hump from Loveland down to Schomp?</p>
<p>So much for filling in major geographic gaps. Instead of driving 150 miles to Motorwerks in Minneapolis for maintenance, I now have a choice — I can drive 150 miles to Madison… :-/</p>
<p>I never realized just how few MINI dealers there are. Great move MINIUSA to get more MINIs on the road!</p>
<p>is there a graphic for the physical location of each of these dealerships, current or future? i think that would be interesting to see spread out on a map…</p>
p>@Gary</p
<p>Not to mention Scottsdale to Tempe. That opens a whole new market 10 miles away.</p>
<p>Would make more sense to add Tucson, not Tempe.</p>
<p>Go, Raleigh, go Raleigh!</p>
<p>Still nothing in northern New England – NH, VT, and ME… so I still have a 200 mile trip to the nearest (US) dealership.</p>
<p>“Alexandria folks aren’t motivated enough to drive out to Sterling?”</p>
<p>Not if MINI wants to continue keeping its customers happy in one of its biggest markets (not to mention the most affluent metro-area in the country). Placing a MINI dealer closer to DC is long overdue. There are an astounding number of MINIs in DC and the inner-suburbs and it is bad business to have the only real MINI dealer in the area so far away – not to mention having such an overbooked service department.</p>
<p>uh-oh. greg won’t like this.</p>
<p>I can understand the perplexing feeling that folks who are a very long way from their MINI dealership feel about the Alexandria location… but I suspect that the biggest reason that this (and others like it) decision made by corporate MINIUSA had a lot to do with service.</p>
<p>MINI of Sterling works two service shifts but still has a long wait for a service appointment. They’re just swamped, and it has caused a bad taste for some people in terms of sticking with the brand. I’ve heard numerous complaints about it from many fellow (local) MINI owners.</p>
<p>@ Haemish & DC</p>
<p>Okay, I yield. Better that MINI thrive. Fred can drive 250 miles for oil. Not a problem. Yet there are 2 BMW dealers 60 miles from me….</p>
<p>“It’s just too much of a hump from Loveland down to Schomp” Well with the way Schomp treated me and many others I will drive out of my way to Loveland and not deal with them!</p>
<p>How long will it be until MINI and BMW do the right thing? All BMW dealers should be able to do MINI service. Is that too much to ask? I don’t think so…but then I’m just another far away MINI owner who thinks that it is only common sense. What would I know about their business?</p>
<p>I can’t believe they are opening a dealership in Loveland but not in Colorado Springs. That blows!</p>
<p>Whoooo Hoo! Raleigh, NC finally getting a dealership!</p>
<p>How about a little happiness for the growth of the brand and support for more customers in or near those markets? Growth + auto industry = good.</p>
<p>Of course some folks won’t be happy, but I’d bet MINI and BMW have some fairly sophisticated ways of figuring out where the new points need to be.</p>
<p>I just listened to a recent White Roof Radio and Todd said Des Moines is going to get a dealer. No mention of that here. Any chance of Iowa? Think that would be helpful to a lot of people.</p>
<p>They’re adding another in Seattle, but it still makes my closest dearler 450 miles away. They really need one in Spokane Wa.</p>
<p>Knoxville, TN and it’s proximity to the Dragon is very welcome. ;-)</p>
<p>Humm… still no dealer in the Coachella Valley, with a large, very affluent population and a large, beautiful new BMW Palm Springs dealership. So the cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio and Desert Hot Springs will still have the 50+ mile drive outside the Valley to either Riverside or the new dealership in Ontario. Not very smart in the extremely large market of Southern California.</p>
<p>Hey, that’s Cafe 222 (downtown San Diego) in the picture!</p>
<p>It’s nice to know that Brecht will be getting some competition around here at last. None of the other BMW dealers in San Diego are family-owned like Brecht anymore, though. I guess we’ll see whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.</p>
<p>For complaining about where the stores will be located, I’m sure that Mini did a lot of due diligence in choosing locations and dealers for the new stores. When you’re only going up to 100 stores, you have to get them right.</p>
<p>When there are only 100 stores, you can guarantee that there will be lots of areas that aren’t happy too. The good news is that they’re expanding…. I’m sure that if this results in lots of growth for the brand, then we can expect more dealerships in the future too.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Im all for growth of the mini brand. I love the company used to work for them in Oxford and have been a “Mini” man for 7 years.
The only concern i see with this growth picture is the residual value of our cars. With more supply in the market [especially in California], and small marginal gains in demand, what awaits? Cheaper pricing and lower resale value for Mini’s?</p>
<p>Nothing for the Monterey Peninsula (California)? This is a car enthusiast capitol with the Concourse d Elegance, Laguna Seca, Historic races, etc. Having to drive over 100 miles to the nearest dealer is not fun. MINI needs 200 dealerships.</p>
<p>Madison, Wisconsin!!!!! Great!!! Whoopee!!! Fantastic!!! No more long drives to Milwaukee or Chicago!!!</p>
<p>Still none in Santa Barbara, Ca? WTF? I was just up there on vacation and talked with an Apple store employee… oops, I mean Genius, and she thinks, as do I, me it’s crazy that a city. But I talked with the BMW dealer there and they suggested they don’t see the need so they didn’t push BMW for one. Those who have a MINI in SB County have to drive back to LA for service and hour drive.</p>
<p>Robin… Isn’t Mountain View MINI still around… Is it 100 miles from Monterey?</p>
<p>I have it from an inside source that a dealer is confirmed for Mt Laurel NJ…</p>
<p>OOps – that was already in the list – OK, never mind…</p>
<p>Maintenance is the problem, get more INDEPENDENT maintenance outlets – doesn’t have to be a dealership. I hear the AVERAGE distance a mini owner has to go is 200 miles? This is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Good to see El Paso is getting some love. I heard this from the dealer in Albq, but it’s good to read the gospel on MF! Holla!</p>
<p>I am very happy that we will be able to get service in the Knoxville area. I do go to Atlanta a lot and I love the folks at Global Imports. The convenience will be fantastic.
Minis rock!!</p>