After a year of declining sales MINI USA has posted an increase of 1.4% for the month of November. 4,507 automobiles were sold, an increase of 1.4 percent from the 4,444 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 47,372 automobiles sold, a decrease of 11.5 percent from 53,505 automobiles sold in the first eleven months of 2015.
The big news (beyond the increase) is the exceptional success of the Clubman which is now the leading model in sales for MINI USA.
MINI certified used program however continued on its tear with a November record of 918 vehicles sold, an increase of 13.1 percent from November 2015. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales also set a November record with 2,265 vehicles in November 2016, an increase of 18.8 percent from November 2015. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales year-to-date were 26,025, a 6.3 percent increase from the first eleven months of 2015.
<p>Appears the new Clubman sales to the top of the brand for Nov were at the expense of both the 2 door & 4 door hatches compared to Nov 2015 when the new Clubman wasn’t available. Sales for the 2/4 doors fell about 1100 units while the Clubman sold over 1500..</p>
<p>These numbers are really bad. MINI is selling 1/5th as many hardtops as it sold R56s. People don’t like the new direction mini is taking and the numbers show. Overall sales are about 50% of MINIUSA’s best year. And please no one say it’s because the market is shifting to suvs… Just look at how well VW is still doing with Golf and GTI sales. VW only sold about 250 less Golf Rs than all 4dr hardtops MINI sold and that’s a limited production, $40K Golf. GTI sales are up 40% year over year.</p>
<p>I predict that the Clubman and the upcoming new Countryman due out in late March will have the largest sales figures for MINI in the US fr the 2017 year totals. I have a 2015 S 4 door hatch & I think that the 4 door sales may not be able to keep up with the Clubman sales over time. Shame that BMW/MINI wasn’t able to go with a nitch small MINI such as the Rocketman concept to maintain its core customers that always look back at the Classic Mini & even the Gen 1 2 door hatch as a special model long gone!</p>
<p><blockquote><em>the new Clubman sales to the top of the brand for Nov were at the expense of both the 2 door & 4 door hatches</em></blockquote></p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that the Clubman cannibalized hatch sales — they are in different market categories and not cars that people would be cross-shopping. The hatch sales just keep dropping all by themselves, not because of the Clubman.</p>
<p>Quite the contrary. I’ve owned an R53 and currently have a R56 S. With two little ones a 2dr hatch really doesn’t work for me anymore; the Clubman is right in that sweet spot of still being small but won’t have the passenger’s knees in the dashboard with a kid sitting behind them.</p>
<p>You missed my point, and your example illustrates what I was talking about. You had a clear intention to purchase a larger vehicle. Perhaps you cross-shopped between vehicles of similar size (like the Clubman, Countryman and BMW X1). But a new 2dr hatch wasn’t a consideration. Your purchase of a Clubman doesn’t represent a lost sale for the F56.</p>
<p>MINI has celebrated the three millionth car to be built at Plant Oxford since production began in 2001. The landmark car was a JCW Clubman. When it started, Plant Oxford was able to build around 300 cars per day, but today can build around 1000. 80% of MINIs are built at Plant Oxford, and are exported to more than 110 markets across the world. This year will see a new all-time record in MINI global sales.</p>
<p>I think trends are most important to note in regards to US sales. In 2015, 53.2% of MINIs sold in the US had 4 doors. So far in 2016, 69.4% of MINIs sold have 4 doors. That number should trend north of 75-80% for 2017 with the new Countryman – maybe even higher.</p>
<p>It should be no surprise that four door MINIs are proving so popular. Consumers these days want more convenience in cars, and many require their car to be able to multitask. In Europe, 4-door Hatchbacks have traditionally outsold the 2-dr model by 2:1.</p>
<p>Some car makers are dropping the 2-dr version altogether. Renault stopped making a 2-door version of its Clio and launched its new Twingo city car with four doors only, and VW has revealed that the next generation Polo will only be available with four doors.</p>
<p>Of course, none of the above explains why MINI USA sales are down overall in 2016, and are up in the rest of the world</p>
<p>Meanwhile VW sales, yes VW, were up 25% year over year.</p>
<p>well, that will help in offsetting that $15B fine…</p>
<p>For 2016 Year-To-Date, the long in the tooth R60 Countryman is still the best selling MINI in the US.</p>
<p>MINI USA SALES 2016 YTD</p>
<p>R60 11,853
F54 10,684
F55 10,361
F56 10,235
F57 04,143</p>
<p>Appears the new Clubman sales to the top of the brand for Nov were at the expense of both the 2 door & 4 door hatches compared to Nov 2015 when the new Clubman wasn’t available. Sales for the 2/4 doors fell about 1100 units while the Clubman sold over 1500..</p>
<p>These numbers are really bad. MINI is selling 1/5th as many hardtops as it sold R56s. People don’t like the new direction mini is taking and the numbers show. Overall sales are about 50% of MINIUSA’s best year. And please no one say it’s because the market is shifting to suvs… Just look at how well VW is still doing with Golf and GTI sales. VW only sold about 250 less Golf Rs than all 4dr hardtops MINI sold and that’s a limited production, $40K Golf. GTI sales are up 40% year over year.</p>
<p>I predict that the Clubman and the upcoming new Countryman due out in late March will have the largest sales figures for MINI in the US fr the 2017 year totals. I have a 2015 S 4 door hatch & I think that the 4 door sales may not be able to keep up with the Clubman sales over time. Shame that BMW/MINI wasn’t able to go with a nitch small MINI such as the Rocketman concept to maintain its core customers that always look back at the Classic Mini & even the Gen 1 2 door hatch as a special model long gone!</p>
<p>we get it, you love VW. But your 40% numbers are a bit fanciful. Up 30% from ’13-’14, 36% from ’14-15, but down 18% from ’12-’13.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2014/10/volkswagen-golf-gti-sales-figures-usa.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2014/10/volkswagen-golf-gti-sales-figures-usa.html</a></p>
<p><blockquote><em>the new Clubman sales to the top of the brand for Nov were at the expense of both the 2 door & 4 door hatches</em></blockquote></p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that the Clubman cannibalized hatch sales — they are in different market categories and not cars that people would be cross-shopping. The hatch sales just keep dropping all by themselves, not because of the Clubman.</p>
<p>Quite the contrary. I’ve owned an R53 and currently have a R56 S. With two little ones a 2dr hatch really doesn’t work for me anymore; the Clubman is right in that sweet spot of still being small but won’t have the passenger’s knees in the dashboard with a kid sitting behind them.</p>
<p>You missed my point, and your example illustrates what I was talking about. You had a clear intention to purchase a larger vehicle. Perhaps you cross-shopped between vehicles of similar size (like the Clubman, Countryman and BMW X1). But a new 2dr hatch wasn’t a consideration. Your purchase of a Clubman doesn’t represent a lost sale for the F56.</p>
<p>MINI has celebrated the three millionth car to be built at Plant Oxford since production began in 2001. The landmark car was a JCW Clubman. When it started, Plant Oxford was able to build around 300 cars per day, but today can build around 1000. 80% of MINIs are built at Plant Oxford, and are exported to more than 110 markets across the world. This year will see a new all-time record in MINI global sales.</p>
<p>I think trends are most important to note in regards to US sales. In 2015, 53.2% of MINIs sold in the US had 4 doors. So far in 2016, 69.4% of MINIs sold have 4 doors. That number should trend north of 75-80% for 2017 with the new Countryman – maybe even higher.</p>
<p>It should be no surprise that four door MINIs are proving so popular. Consumers these days want more convenience in cars, and many require their car to be able to multitask. In Europe, 4-door Hatchbacks have traditionally outsold the 2-dr model by 2:1.</p>
<p>Some car makers are dropping the 2-dr version altogether. Renault stopped making a 2-door version of its Clio and launched its new Twingo city car with four doors only, and VW has revealed that the next generation Polo will only be available with four doors.</p>
<p>Of course, none of the above explains why MINI USA sales are down overall in 2016, and are up in the rest of the world</p>