I think the smartest thing MINI did was put this fleet out under lease. The cars get tested under real world conditions, and the testers are not stuck with something that may not be viable over the long term. Not that the technology is not the way of the future, just that testing in real world conditions, tweaking the operating systems, and getting the cars out and about in public, are all important to the car maker.
Now sure, $800 or whatever a month for a lease is way up there, but MINI concentrated the leases in high end markets. Some of those folks living in those markets can count on having to buy a parking space for the same money a house costs in some areas.
I feel bad for these folks if they are left stranded, but ***** happens, especially when your involved in a testing program.
