MINI USA Sales Unchanged for March
MINI USA is still selling cars as a respectable pace, it’s just not any higher than 2009 at this time. Sales have clearly been helped by the R57 convertible model which, at this time last year, was just filtering into sales channels. The R55 Clubman and R56 hatch were down 4% and 8% respectively for the month. However year to date sales are actually up 2.5% with 8,728 cars sold.
<p>A gain of 2.5% for a premium small vehicle is nothing to be ashamed about when so many people are still out of work. As much as we we all like to see this grow the nation as a whole still needs to turn around a bit more to really see the sales numbers grow.</p>
<p>Convertibles selling well.</p>
<p>Clubmans are way to expensive.</p>
<p>The JCWs are expensive to start. I feel all the other mini models have good base prices but add a few options and you are up 5-10k over base which is sort of ridiculous. I understand that the mini is a money maker for BMW because he each car presents a huge profit (I think I read this in the WSJ). But with so many other car options out there this may not be the best strategy. . Just my two cents.</p>
<p>VW-USA sales increased 41% from March 2009 to March 2010. In some cases they are helped by the introduction of new models, but almost every model of VW is way up. (I.e., New Beetle hardtops increased 159% over 2009). They reported that their diesel units in particular are selling quickly, with for instance 85% of all Jetta wagons sold in March sporting the TDI engine.</p>
<p>Is MINI missing the boat here? Surely these VW figures aren’t merely the result of their idiotic “Punch-a-Dub” marketing campaign. For what it’s worth VW is improving from a somewhat worse March 2009 than MINI. (VW was down 20% year-to-year in March 2009, while MINI was down 16% that month). Still…</p>
<p>According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. car sales in general were up 24% over March 2009. Toyota sales: up 41%. (insert bug-eyed emoticon here).</p>
<p>Have any new MINI dealerships opened in the past year? If there are more dealerships than previously, the sales numbers are even worse than they seem at first blush. Minipuma has some good points, if other small car manufacturers have been successful in increasing sales, than perhaps MINI is stuck in a very niche market. Kind of explains the R60 I guess.</p>
<p>I think MINI is in a difficult price point for the quality and content of the vehicle compared to other brands. I say this even though I purchased a new Clubman S (our third MINI) three weeks ago (the discounts currently out there certainly helped).</p>
<p>I was just at the NY Auto show -my first time at such an event. So many Good Gas Milage High Horse Power models from many manufacturers coming in ’11 at what appear to be good prices. I was all set on my second mini but now I’m thinking otherwise. The countryman wasn’t for me and I feel a let down on that one. It visually just doesn’t sit well with me and the back seat was almost useless for a passenger when I’m in the car -I’m 6’3″. I still like the JCW clubman a lot but at that price I could get many other cars some more upscale and others better high performers. My mini obsession is waning; But I still love my JCW Cabrio.</p>