[NearlyNN]

Hello all,

I realize this is a news release, but I can't think of a story that would have more "general forum" interest than the folowing. At least for U.S. owners.

The blurb is from the business section of the Bergen Record, the largest paper in NE New Jersey, home to BMW USA, in Woodcliffe Lake.

"WOODCLIFFE LAKE - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG plans to limit U.S. sales of its MINI small cars to about 24,000 next year to spur demand and keep resale vlaue high, an executive for the brand said. The German automaker this year expects sales of 22,000of the MINI Cooper cars in the United States, where they deduted at the end of March, said Jack Pitney, the brand's U.S. general Mmanager. At the current pace, MINI could sell 32,000 cars a year in the United States, says Autodata Corp."

Good news for those of us who own, or are in line to purchase a MINI. I like their style.

[NEMINI]

not sure MINI could supply any more to the US then they already are, factory is currently running 3 shifts a day 7 days a week trying to keep/catch up as it is

[cooper4us]

Great news indeed. I am pleased to see that BMW/MINI's sales strategy is not following on the foot steps of the VW New Beetle and the Chrysler PT Cruiser, two "Halo" cars that completely lost their luster with the car buying public due to overproduction, eroded exclusivity/cool factor and rather low resale values in the used car market.

The MINI Cooper has the highest resale/residual values in the used car market, according to ALG (Automotive leasing Guide).

The MINI has even higher resale values than the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK Coupe.

[dukesantos]

I would like to know what the Cooper/ S breakdown is going to be. There are Coopers available, particularly in the Midwest, because the demand is higher for the S which is a real value. Recent monthly sales report show almost a 50/50 demand. They presumeably make more money on the S, hopefully they will adjust their production schedules. They could also drop the cheaper MINI One they sell in Europe to free up production capacity.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by dukesantos
.... They could also drop the cheaper MINI One they sell in Europe to free up production capacity.

Uh oh! You'd better duck!

You're sure to hear form MINI One owners on that!

[PigLick]

Quote:

Originally posted by cooper4us
Great news indeed. I am pleased to see that BMW/MINI's sales strategy is not following on the foot steps of the VW New Beetle and the Chrysler PT Cruiser, two "Halo" cars that completely lost their luster with the car buying public due to overproduction, eroded exclusivity/cool factor and rather low resale values in the used car market.

The MINI Cooper has the highest resale/residual values in the used car market, according to ALG (Automotive leasing Guide).

The MINI has even higher resale values than the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK Coupe.

Well, I'd say it's still a bit early to be counting our chickens, both the PT Cruiser and new Beetle took a few years before they reached that point, the same could be true of the MINI. Not saying I think it will, but it is a possibility. They originally announced 20,000 MINI's per year in the US, now its 24,000. A pretty small increase, but an increase nonetheless.

PigLick

[chiph]

I lke hearing this. One of the primary reasons for my buying a MINI was it's exclusivity.

Of course, the dealers like hearing this too, as they are able to continue charging MSRP+ for the cars.

Note that they didn't say anything about introducing new models. If they were to start building the Estate version, that might not count towards the 24000. They'd have to significantly expand production capacity at Oxford (or elsewhere) to add a new model, of course.

Chip H.