Last week it was MINI USA announcing record sales. This week BMW Group global is doing this same. 2011 was the best year on record for BMW Group and the three automotive brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce. MINI in particular had a great year as it diversified its product portfolio and brought a new factory online with the Countryman.

Official Release: The MINI brand can also look back on its best year ever. Global sales climbed to a record 285,060 vehicles in 2011 (+21.7%; prev. yr. 234,175). It finished on a strong note in December with 29,467 vehicles sold (+16.2%; prev. yr. 25,359).

The brand’s positive annual result was bolstered by the MINI Countryman, which totalled 89.036 deliveries in its first full year of sales. Further momentum is expected in 2012 with the new additions to the MINI family: the MINI Coupé and the MINI Roadster. The U.S. remains the largest market for MINI, with 57,511 cars sold last year, followed by the U.K. with 50,428).