MINI USA hits 100,000 milestone

MINI USA has sold its 100,000th car since the launch in March 2002, two years ahead of initial forecasts. The sales target in 2002 was 20,000 per annum, but America has fallen for the car following its ‘Car of the Year’ award at the Detroit International Auto Show in 2003. The first European car to win the award.

In 2004, MINI USA sold 36,032 cars.

This popularity has also led to the expansion of the dealer network by an extra ten dealerships to bring the total number to 80 nationwide. The top three regional markets for MINI in the USA are New York metropolitan, South Florida and California.

American MINI drivers have embraced the MINI culture. Over 150 MINIs are soon to descend on Las Vegas to drive in convoy through the city, over the Hoover Dam and far, far into the Red Rock Canyon. The ‘MINI Vacation in Vegas’ is organised by the Nevada MINI owners club, and on the first event last year MINI drivers turned up from all over the US.

iPod your MINI

Journalists need no longer fear leaving CDs of questionable taste in MINIs from the press fleet, as long as they remember their iPods. An iPod connector has been added to all press fleet MINIs without the six-CD changer.

The interface allows an Apple iPod to be connected to the car’s audio system using a cable in the glovebox. After initial set-up on the ‘pod, the music is played through the normal audio system, and controlled using the radio or multifunction steering wheel. The cost is £125 (inc. VAT, excl. fitting) and is only available for cars with Radio Boost.

MINI global expansion continues

From the end of February, MINI will be on sale in South Korea bringing the total number of MINI markets to over 70 countries. 2004 saw Argentina, Bulgaria and Venezuela added to MINI’s global family as the 500,000th car left the Oxford production line.