MINI USA Sales Up 68.6% for March 2011
MINI USA is reporting sales of 6,087 cars making it the best March, and the second best single sales month, since coming to the U.S. Sales are up by an impressive 68.6% over the 3,610 cars sold in March of 2010. What’s more, U.S. sales are up 41.4% (12,341 compared to 8,728) for the first quarter, year over year. Details after the break.
Sales Overview BMW Group USA, March 2011
| March 2011 | March 2010 | % | YTD 2011 | YTD 2010 | % | |
| BMW brand | 20,295 | 18,060 | 12.4 | 52,617 | 46,323 | 13.6 |
| BMW passenger cars | 15,361 | 14,445 | 6.3 | 38,176 | 35,774 | 6.7 |
| BMW light trucks (SAVs) | 4,934 | 3,615 | 36.5 | 14,441 | 10,549 | 36.9 |
| MINI by model | March 2011 | March 2010 | % | YTD 2011 | YTD 2010 | % |
| Cooper /S Hardtop | 3,043 | 2,248 | 35.4 | 6,476 | 5,445 | 18.9 |
| Cooper /S Convertible | 537 | 496 | 8.3 | 1,018 | 1,305 | -22.0 |
| Cooper /S Clubman | 778 | 866 | -10.2 | 1,546 | 1,978 | -21.8 |
| Countryman /S/All4 | 1,729 | N/A | N/A | 3,301 | N/A | N/A |
| MINI brand total | 6,087 | 3,610 | 68.6 | 12,341 | 8,728 | 41.4 |
| TOTAL Group | 26,382 | 21,670 | 21.7 | 64,958 | 55,051 | 18.0 |
<p>If the percentage of the Countryman is close to 30%, I don’t see that changing much UNLESS MINI sales rise as a whole. I don’t think the buying decision would be so much between Countryman vs Hardtop or Cabrio as it would be between the Countryman vs Clubman. My guess as far as sales would be new customers attracted by the Countryman on its own and people looking for space (hence Ctryman vs Clman) in a MINI and a bit from the Hardtop, with none from the Cabrio.</p>
<p>I too see the Countryman taking away from Clubby sales a lot more in the future. If people want a bigger MINI, they’ll probably go whole hog and step right up to the Countryman</p>
<p>Is that a custom color on that Countryman? I know the Countryman Pure Red isn’t as red as the Chili Red on the Oxford plant cars, but that photo really looks orange to me – and I like it!</p>
<p>Have seen a couple of Countrypeople on the road now. I’m going to have to go with “slab-sided monstrosity”.</p>
<p>i have yet to a single one on the roads of NYC. this I find extremely strange.</p>
<p>Well, it appears that MINI is geared to celebrate Halloween early and/or considering a Harley Davidson Orange and Black edition. Treats are always better than tricks, particularly when the bean counters have a pow wow. More sales equal more wampum kemosabi, or as they say in Swabia — und das ist en Munchen gut.</p>
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<p>Is that a custom color on that Countryman? I know the Countryman Pure Red isn’t as red as the Chili Red on the Oxford plant cars, but that photo really looks orange to me – and I like it!</p>
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<p>That’s Pure Red under the lights of the Chicago Auto Show.</p>
<p>The overall increase isn’t that dramatic when you realize the Countryman accounts for 70% of the difference in year-over-year sales. Add the finance and lease deals they keep throwing out there, and a few folks who waited for the midcycle refresh, and there you go.</p>
<p>None of that is to say that the increase isn’t important. It shows MINI knows what they’re doing with the Countryman and their marketing.</p>
<p>I think it’s time to stop wasting engineering $ and time on the convertible unless they have much different sales figures in other markets.</p>
<blockquote>i have yet to a single one on the roads of NYC. this I find extremely strange.</blockquote>
<p>Yes, I also think that is strange.</p>
<p>I’ve seen 3 here in Taichung, Taiwan (1.5mil pop., 3rd largest city on the island) in the last few months: 2 on the streets (white over blue, white over brown) and 1 (black over red) at a dealership.</p>
<p>The only one i’ve seen in the Chicago Burbs was one with dealer plates on it. On the other hand, I am seeing at least a few Juke’s each day.</p>
<p>“I think it’s time to stop wasting engineering $ and time on the convertible unless they have much different sales figures in other markets.”</p>
<p>Convertable sales are seasonal – once we get closer to summer, the sales will pick up quite a bit.</p>
<p>That ‘orange’ does look good. Reminds me of the old Inka Orange on BMW 2002’s.</p>