2018 MINI UK Sales Grow Marketshare to a Record 2.8%
MINI UK sales were impressive for 2018 despite it being a terrible year for the auto industry. While the total figures were down slightly, the brand achieved a record market share of 2.8% with sales of 67,021 vehicles. That significantly outperformed the total UK new car market which fell by 7%.
The brand’s biggest and most versatile model, the MINI Countryman, recorded a 25 per cent increase versus 2017 with 14,607 registrations, due in part to the extremely strong customer demand for the Plug-in Hybrid model with 2,306 vehicles registered.
“Despite challenging trading conditions in the UK new car market, we have seen both BMW and MINI brands outperforming the market with the introduction of 11 new models during the year,” said Graeme Grieve, Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group UK.
“Although the 2019 economic outlook remains uncertain, we will be further strengthening our product portfolio with a number of significant new models. In MINI’s 60th anniversary year we will see the new all-electric MINI which will be produced at our Oxford plant,” Grieve added.
MINI Hatch saw 38,995 registrations between the 3-door Hatch and 5-door Hatch models. The MINI Convertible was the best-selling convertible in the UK in 2018 with 5,909 vehicle registrations.
<p>TOTAL MINI SALES 2018 – MINI UK vs MINI USA</p>
<p>Hatchback ——— 38,995 vs 16,400 (3/5dr)
Countryman ——- 14,607 vs 17,565
Clubman ———— 07,510 vs 04,385
Convertible ——– 05,909 vs 05,334</p>
<p>Total —————— 67,021 vs 43,684</p>
<p>BMW refers to the 3/5-door Hatchback as one of the four MINI “Superhero” models, and is regarded as one model in its published sales data. Only MINI USA, it seems, still presents them as two separate models in its sales data.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – SMMT – groups the MINI F55/56/57 together as one model in its sales data. The F55/56/57 are underpinned by the UKL1 platform which is unique to all three variants and not employed in any other models.</p>
<p>BTW, the fifth and final MINI F-series “Superhero” model – the all electric MINI – due to be launched this summer, is now said likely to be called MINI Cooper S E as an indication of its potential performance.</p>
<p>I wonder if they are doing anything in the UK that would help sales in the US?</p>
<p>Price of gas in the UK is just under $6.00/gallon. Also I think many EU countries tax cars by engine displacement and emissions. That and other factors makes ownership of larger SUVs and trucks like in the US pretty much prohibitive.</p>
<p>True, but there are many other well entrenched small cars in the UK market. The question is what are they doing to gain that increase in market share? That’s what would be interesting to know…</p>