BMW not planning to increase Mini production, may increase price

Proving once again that there are many factors which impact an automaker's plans on how many vehicles to sell is the fact that the U.S. isn't likely to get an additional supply of Minis any time soon. Despite the fact that Mini literally cannot keep enough cars on its dealer lots (there is only a five day supply of unsold cars in the U.S.), BMW is not planning to increase production. While it would seem to make fiscal sense to build as many cars as can be sold, it's not quite that easy. Apparently, the plant in Oxford, England where the new Mini is still produced is already running at capacity. It could take years for the necessary expansion at the facility to produce more cars, and it is difficult to forecast just how long the sales boom will last.

What may be in for an adjustment, though, is the current Mini's sticker price. An increase may be coming due to both high demand and the weak state of the dollar.

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