Mini News Most liked posts in thread: MINI Sales up 2.1% for December 2013, Up 0.6% for year over 2012

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #3 Nathan, Jan 3, 2014
    It's the same methodology all car makers use in reporting sales numbers. There is least consistency across the board there.

    Taken in context across the broader Automobile/Light Truck market MINI did well in December.

    GM's December sales were off more than 6%

    Toyota sales were down 1.7%

    VW sales were down 23%

    Ford was up 1.8%

    One not so bright spot is how MINI compares to the overall market for the year. While MINI was only up 0.6% the overall market was up 7% across all auto makers.

    Note-These are all US Sales figures.
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #2 Dave.0, Jan 3, 2014
    That's nothing to be proud of if you subtract the 650 Paceman they sold. (5942)

    Look at those numbers again without the 100% (650) for the Paceman...... :eek::rolleyes:

    Looks like government math to me. :lol:
     
  3. patchelect

    patchelect New Member

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    #4 patchelect, Jan 9, 2014
    Dave, government math and corporate math are rom the same book!!

    As for the Mini numbers themselves, I feel that Mini has diluted itself trying to be all things to all people. BMW is trying to create/sustain an image that isn't something that can grow. The Mini, whether the current models or even the original ones, is a niche vehicle and as such cannot grow beyond a certain level, there is simply no market. Unless they create a GMC Suburban sized vehicle they can only cover so many bases. How many current Mini owners are previous Mini owners who have simply moved up/along in the Mini world vs how many are actually new to the community? (Talking new car sales here, not reales) These numbers can be posted month after month, but truthfully if you were to compare the last 10 years of sales you would see that they hit a plateau and have flattened out. I had a Miata for 8 years and saw similar scenarios. There are only so many buyers for a certain style/design no matter who is making it. And as long as American gasoline prices are relatively cheap, there is no fuel economy incentive to drive smaller fuel efficient cars. Hell, a Ram Hemi pick up shows amazing CAFE numbers!

    And even Mazda is partnering with Alfa for the next gen Miata because neither one of them can manufacture and sell a two seat sports car profitably on their own. I'd be willing to bet that one of the reasons that BMW got involved with Mini was to help their CAFE numbers, just like MB is doing with the Smart for Two.