[BruceK]

For those of us MINI enthusiasts living in Texas without any MINI dealers in our state, the past 9 months have been especially frustrating - even more so as MINI launch day approaches next month. While 70 or so MINI dealerships were announced across the US in late spring 2001, the second most populous state was seemingly ignored. Texans who wanted a MINI were forced to look to out of state dealers to take deposits and left with real concerns regarding how to get a MINI serviced when the nearest dealer is literally hundreds and hundreds of miles away. A cryptic message on the miniusa.com website said (and still says) decisions on MINI dealerships in Texas "are still pending”. During all this time MINIUSA has been completely silent as to the reasons for the delay in naming dealers in Texas, as well as when the situation would be resolved. Consequently this news void generated lots of rumors and theories, but little real news or hopes of progress.

This past week I’ve been fortunate to have been in contact with a representative from MINIUSA regarding the dealership issue here in the Lone Star State. As far as I know, this is the first time the case has clearly been made that MINIUSA definitely wants to sell cars in Texas as soon as it is possible to do so.

Here is the relevant text of an email I received on the subject:

“MINI very much wants to sell its products in the state of Texas. Accordingly, we have been working with the Texas Motor Vehicle Division to obtain the necessary licensing to sell the MINI passenger car line-make in that state. Once licensed, the MINI Division will be in a better position to determine the best way to move forward in the state.

After our April 2001 submission, the Texas Motor Vehicle Division asked us for information that was not developed yet, e.g., the Dealer Agreement For MINI Passenger Cars. When we had all of the information that the agency requested available, we submitted it to the State. That occurred in December. In January, we received a new request for information. We are communicating with the TMVD now on that request.”

I was told by MINIUSA that there are still too many variables to determine just when MINI dealerships in Texas will be announced, but they are hopeful it will be “soon”.

I expressed my concern that even after the announcement is made it will take a long time before the selected BMW dealers can complete all the necessary things required to open a MINI franchise -- basically establishing a separate MINI showroom with sales staff distinct from the dealership’s BMW operations. Additionally, settling any local zoning issues and constructing a new MINI buildings can take lots of time. However, my contact at MINIUSA indicated that some BMW dealerships would be able to move more quickly than others to open the doors of their new MINI dealership once given the go-ahead. Apparently one quick method is to relocate a dealership’s used car department elsewhere and then transform the existing separate used car facilities into the new MINI dealership while at the same time a MINI sales staff is hired and trained.

So, after the news blackout from MINIUSA for the past 9 months on the subject, it is at least encouraging to now be told that MINIUSA is actively pursuing a resolution to the problem.