[MiniJamie]

282 PA
MINI BOOM HELPS DRIVE UP PROFITS
By Steve Hawkes, City Staff, PA News
The success of BMW's Mini adventure gathered pace today as the German motor giant showed the compact car had helped to drive group profits.
Munich-based BMW sold a total of 27,691 Mini Ones and Mini Coopers in the first three months of the year as car lovers snapped up the new models.
The redesigned versions of the Mini, first launched in 1959, hit the UK last July before being sold in mainland Europe, Japan and the US.
Total revenue for the BMW group rose 14% to 10.8 billion euros (#6.8 billion) with sales of the new 7 Series powering ahead by 52%.
And the growth took profits up to 632 million euros (#395 million), 4% ahead of the same period a year ago.
"BMW was able to maintain its success in the first quarter of 2002 and thus continue the growth course set in the record year 2001," the group said.
#50 million is being invested by BMW at its plant in Cowley, Oxford to meet demand for the new Mini.
BMW said last week the Mini's "astounding success" meant that by the summer an extra 700 jobs will have been created at the factory.
The group hopes to produce 100,000 Mini's this year as it makes it available in a total of 50 countries worldwide.
It said the strong sales since the turn of the year reflected the success in "establishing the Mini as a premium brand in the small car segment".
A spokesman added that dealers in the US were already asking for more models to cope with demand just two months after its American launch.
The first Mini went on sale in 1959 for #496, including tax. A Mini One will now set you back #10,300, with a Mini Cooper costing #11,600.
end
071442 MAY 02

[Paul]

Also see latest news story (although it will be replaced pretty quick by a new one).