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Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible

Despite the overall weak forecast for automobile sales in 2009 in the United Sates and abroad, MINI USA head Jim McDowell is expecting increased sales for his diminutive brand; higher even than record sales of 54,077 posted in 2008, which was an increase of nearly 30% over '07. McDowell points to things like a brand-new convertible model finally hitting the sales floor in late March, increased traffic at the brand's website and the fact that all but one MINI dealership in the U.S. were profitable last year.

This promise of profitability has 13 new dealerships hoping to come online in the U.S. by March of 2010. More locations should translate into more units sold, making 2009 - the 50th anniversary of the iconic original MINI design - another banner year for BMW's smallest brand.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

MINI forecasting record sales in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>minimini coopermini cooper salesmini salesmini u.s. salesMiniCooperMiniCooperSalesMiniSalesMiniU.s.SalesMon, 02 Mar 2009 16:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1475410/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/03/02/mini-forecasting-record-sales-in-2009/1475410/article-detail.xml 1475410 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/03-09-mini-cooper-s-convertible_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/03-09-mini-cooper-s-convertible_580op.jpg <![CDATA[MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for our John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman high-res gallery

European MINI dealers are being asked to distinguish their stores from the BMW brand by creating a separate showroom for sell the British/Bavarian small-car. This entails new main entrances, and dedicated reception and service desks. While most of the dealers in the United States currently operate in this manner, most European retailers still share space with BMW. If dealers don't move enough volume to justify the investment, they will be dropped. In 2007, there were about 750 MINI retailers in Europe. That number is expected to fall to about 650 by the end of this year (worldwide, MINI has about 1,500 dealers in 70 countries). Unlike nearly all other automakers who are experiencing a sales slump, MINI's global sales are reportedly up more than 12 percent for the first nine months of 2008 -- no doubt credited to their diminutive size and fuel efficient engines.

Gallery: 2008 John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealerdifferentiateEuropefranchiseMINImini coopermini cooper clubmanmini cooper convertiblemini cooper smini cooper s john cooper worksmini salesMiniCooperMiniCooperClubmanMiniCooperConvertibleMiniCooperSMiniCooperSJohnCooperWorksMiniSalesseparateshowroomTue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1366973/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/1366973/article-detail.xml 1366973 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/mini_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/mini_450.jpg <![CDATA[No new MINIs for '08? Manufacturers tapped, dealers sold out]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/no-new-minis-for-08-manufacturers-tapped-dealers-sold-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/no-new-minis-for-08-manufacturers-tapped-dealers-sold-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/no-new-minis-for-08-manufacturers-tapped-dealers-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a gallery of the 2008 MINI Cooper S.

If you were planning on hitting one of the 82 U.S. MINI dealers to get your hands on a fuel-efficient Cooper or Clubman, it looks like you'll need to look at plan B. Skyrocketing fuel prices has lifted demand of the little British icons to the point that, with the except of pre-orders, all 2008 models are pretty much sold out. The MINI's cute looks and thrifty petrol-sipping discipline have made the retro hatch more attractive than ever. Year over year sales increases of 39%, 52%, and 24% from April-June have all but wiped clean the MINI's already tight inventory.

Although sales really picked up in April, the MINI has been on fire all year, as the 26,400 MINIs sold in the first half of 2008 represents a 33.6% increase over the same sales period in 2007. And thanks to the MINI's already tight world-wide demand, the BMW-owned automaker can only up US shipments by 2-3k units for the rest of the year.

Team MINI wants to keep its new-found fortune coming, too, as it plans to increase its dealer count to 95 stores by 2011. The British automaker will also introduce a diesel MINI once it can pass emissions in all 50 states.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 MINI Cooper S


[Source: Green Fuel Forecast]

No new MINIs for '08? Manufacturers tapped, dealers sold out originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mini ClubmanMINI CooperMINI salesMiniClubmanMiniCooperMiniSalessold outSoldOutTue, 22 Jul 2008 17:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1263924/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/07/22/no-new-minis-for-08-manufacturers-tapped-dealers-sold-out/1263924/article-detail.xml 1263924 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/img_7831_450op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/img_7831_450op.jpg -1 2