MotoringFile Most liked posts in thread: Worldwide MINI Sales Hits 40,000 Cars Sold for September for the First Time Ever

Key word: WORLDWIDE = Not in the US. :lol:

 

To be fair, worldwide means worldwide (doesn't mean excluding the US). Total sales have been rising enough to more than offset dropping U.S. sales.

 

The only time they say worldwide is when they can't say they're up in the U.S.
Also, I bet most sales are for 4 door models....

 

"While MINI USA continues it’s downward slide "

 

Seriously, the car's they're putting out now are unappealing in every way... Unless you're a soccer mom looking for something that's a little different that isn't a 4 door jeep wrangler(they're all the rage amongst the stay at home moms these days). The only one I kinda like is the Countryman but I wouldn't buy one of them over a different make SUV/Crossover. Can get a nice Subbie for at least 10 grand less.

 

Helen Keller does not even want a new MINI they are that UGLY. :lol::lol::lol:

 

Yup...
Cars made by FOCUS GROUPS...
Cars that are made in an attempt to make EVERYONE HAPPY.
Funny how trying to please everyone makes the product kinda "MEAH"....so as to be ok, but not great or memorable in any real way.....
MINI wanted mass market appeal....
So they made the MINI less mini...
Something that many car lovers liked....sure you get more utility....but less off the good things about a small car...
Same compromise was made with handling....
And every other aspect of the car....

As MINI lovers the compromises made in the older cars made sense to us....we bought them...
Then MINI changed....they saw a different market...and thought it was bigger than the current one they essentially OWNED....they made a change to more of a lifestyle brand....a Subaru/VW/SMART-CAR hybrid of sorts....
And they lost us....
Not that it hasn't been said a million times...but maybe someone at MINI-usa is reading this stuff...
But MINI-usa is just one part of a larger company....but I sense most current sales are due to past karma.....and past success...they are kinda coasting....and the trajectory is not looking good.....
Can't sell a car? Let's sell t-shirts!! They are milking a smaller and smaller hardcore group....but the name is loosing value in the process...
Sure....it is being "monetized" and they are seeing a return on $$ due to the lower $$ spent on development....
Let's face it...the current cars are just a BMW at a different price point, with tweaked suspension, on a common chassis's, with a common motor and electronics.....
BMW consider MINI to be "lower rent" IMO...and a badge to be milked to get THEIR investment back.
What was once will never be again.
Enjoy it (your gen1 or even gen2 mini)...as everything is but a moment in time....time marches on....
Me....I am looking for the next thing.
Sure...

 

Well said Zippy.
I'm on the same boat you are. I love my MINI. I do want a 1st Gen yet. Nothing about the F series is appealing to me. It'd be cool if they kept a cool hardtop in the stable but they've ruined what it was. As far as my next new-ish fun car it will be an MX5 more than likely and I'll supercharge it.

 

Hard to argue with the worldwide numbers but it's mostly the "McDonalds Effect" -- more sales due to an expanded presence in new geographic markets, not because of an increased market share in existing markets.

MINI is destined to go the way of SAAB AB. We should have a pool for predicting the year that BMW will eventually sell MINI off to a Chinese company.

 

Or maybe Indian....they seem to like older British brands...be it heritage or just they understand ex British companies....
It seems as bussiness people, they have done some decent work with Jaguar....I might even welcome it.

+1 on the fact that MINI sales worldwide are growing due to availability in more locations....like I said...they seem to coasting on their laurels and reputation....
Numbers don't tell the story....in retail, same store sales is an important metric in brand health....and there... MINI would be on a death watch in the USA, with used car sales leading the way, being the only way they have found to move MINI's in volume.

 

^^^^^Now there's a thought.

 

Here are the numbers, and they are fascinating and surprising (to me, anyway):
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0264885EN/bmw-group-posts-new-september-sales-record?language=en

September 2016 sales

BMW+MINI combined worldwide: 237,973
BMW+MINI Europe: 121,583
BMW+MINI Americas: 38,258
BMW+MINI Asia: 71,237

BMW+MINI by country:
Germany: 28,891
UK: 45,714 <===== !!!!!
USA: 29,413
Japan: 8,531
China: 49,204

I had no idea USA was such a small proportion of BMW sales. I may have had a skewed perception because there are so many BMW (and MINI) on the roads here in California.

 

I'd prefer Japan :cornut: But be ok with either India or China.

 

EVERYTHING is different in the world when you get outside of Communist republic of California. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

Qik, if you're looking, you should consider buying my Gen 1!

And, Dave, we're not all Commies here in the Golden State. But, I know where they live and they know who they are... :lol:

 

Lifan is waiting in the wings for that day to come, which may be just around the corner...:mad2:

Supplied by Bosch... Endorsed by VW:

http://www.lifanmotors.net/car/320/

 

Those translations to English are priceless. :lol: