MINI E delayed due to overwhelming demand
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Feb 9th 2009 at 12:54PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the MINI E
BMW is facing the unenviable task of telling over a thousand applicants that they will not be receiving a new electric MINI E. Apparently, the German automaker has taken applications from around 1,800 people that would like to drive home in one of 450 available vehicles. Of course, that means that the majority of those wanting a MINI E won't get one.
Just to be considered for the program, a potential driver must live near Los Angeles, New York or New Jersey and must not require a range longer than the battery-powered MINI can provide. Other requirements include a lockable garage that can accept a built-in charger and a willingness to shell out $850 per month for a one-year lease.
The backlog of applications has caused a delay in getting the cars out to dealers. Originally, the EV MINIs were scheduled for delivery around the beginning of the year, but now the cars aren't expected to arrive in driveways until April.
Gallery: MINI E
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan 10:56AM (2/09/2009)
All Mini models keep experiencing delays and waits... AND YET Audi thinks it's A1 or S1 variant wouldn't sell like hot cakes here in the States??? What are zhe, idiotz? Or just doing BMW a favor by giving it ZERO competition in the small-car performer segment?
Makes you wonder...
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Erik 1:10PM (2/09/2009)
$850/mo lease ?!?!? Are you kidding? What are these people thinking???
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txdesign 1:18PM (2/09/2009)
This is cutting edge technology. I am guessing the actual cost of this Mini, if they were to sell it, is likely to be around 40-50K. Remember when big flatscreens were $5K?
spdracerut 1:19PM (2/09/2009)
I'm guessing for the majority of people applying, money is not an issue. It's for the opportunity to be one of the first kids on the block to have it.
I'm not sure why overdemand would delay anything. I'd just do it on a first-come, first-serve basis out of the applicants that are qualified.
Jared 1:32PM (2/09/2009)
The buyers are rich people doing this as a political statement. Clearly it makes no economic sense at all.
Go5Go 1:54PM (2/09/2009)
@txdesign:
5k for a flat screen? remember when a 42" plasma was 18-24k!?!??
With that... good for them for getting that much money out of those folks! Most test beds you'd have to put the money out with little or no return until they were officially on the market!
Jake 1:18PM (2/09/2009)
They are thinking that the Prius-snob type crowd will pay mafia extortion type prices to be seen in this thing.
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Alex 1:19PM (2/09/2009)
It blows my mind that people are willing to pay $850 a month to drive an electric mini. You'll never recoup that money in the fuel savings. I don't get the appeal to this.
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hoeun kim 2:20PM (2/09/2009)
It blows my mind that people are willing to pay $850 a month to drive an electric mini. You'll never recoup that money in the fuel savings. I don't get the appeal to this.
I used to think this way too for the longest time. But I realized that you have to apply the laws of economics a little bit deeper than just a simple cost to benefit analysis of premium added to MSRP vs Fuel savings. The first models of new technology is always more expensive. Look at gaming systems, cell phones, blue ray, computers; all of them in the beginning, were very costly, but as production numbers increase, cost always decreases.
Cars are very alike in terms of depreciation with any other modern technology. This is because manufactures put out the better and less costly models. The reason that they can do this is because the same reason Sam's Club or Costco is cheaper, bulk.
Early adopters will always pay more. Look at Iphone, it was $600 when it came out, now you can get one for $200.
ALEXDB9 4:38PM (2/09/2009)
Not only that, but yeah you save some money on gas, but I'm willing to bet your electricity bill will pass the amount saved.
Tango 1:22PM (2/09/2009)
among the gay population
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3seriesisking 1:26PM (2/09/2009)
Hey Tango....your ignorance is showing...
AIL 2:17PM (2/09/2009)
That is 1. obnoxious and 2. wrong.
Most of my gay mini-driving friends have since moved on to a more modernly fashionable vehicle. The mini fad is over, just clung to by trend-lagging heteros.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:23PM (2/09/2009)
I'm not stupid enough to fall for that one.
Because you have 1800 applications, you can't deliver 450 cars.
PR people astound me sometime.
GM should write this one down and use it for the Volt next time it is delayed.
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Jamarr 1:53PM (2/09/2009)
I know right? Like its so hard to say NO.
Tourian 2:09PM (2/09/2009)
I agree, this is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. The car and its support systems must not be ready yet.
letstakeawalk 2:43PM (2/09/2009)
If anything, that kind of demand should be used to justify a price increase...
required 1:24PM (2/09/2009)
Yellow side mirrors and some decals can't cost that much can they?
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jfa 1:25PM (2/09/2009)
Why would you pay $850 per month to be essentially a lab rat? Doesn't sound to enviable to me.
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Dave T. 1:32PM (2/09/2009)
yeah this makes no sense.
1. How is 1800 a huge demand for 450 cars? I'd think you'd find many of them not PERFECT for your test anyway. Disappointing 1350 people isn't going to negatively impact your brand.
2. there is no reason this should delay product. None. In fact it would make it easier to allocate the cars since you know you won't need to move them from one area of low demand to another of high.
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