Are Minis selling in this economy?

[Mess11]

Hi first post here came over from bimmerpost. Been thinking of picking a CooperS up as a daily driver. DOes anyone know how well Minis have been selling in this bad economy? Anyone have sales stats?

I would think that its probably selling ok since it gets decent mpg and isn't too expensive. I bet if the electric version was out already it'd be seling like hotcakes. :)

[Jared]

Hi first post here came over from bimmerpost. Been thinking of picking a CooperS up as a daily driver. DOes anyone know how well Minis have been selling in this bad economy? Anyone have sales stats?

I would think that its probably selling ok since it gets decent mpg and isn't too expensive. I bet if the electric version was out already it'd be seling like hotcakes. :)

Last I read was this. BMW Car sales are down, and down pretty significantly. MINI Sales are UP BIG TIME. So Overall BMW Group (which combines BMW Car and MINI) sales are up very slightly.

So moral of the story? MINI is saving BMW right now :)

I'm really happy that the mini-e came out, I agree with ya and can't wait to see the electric mini actually driving around the streets..... good times ahead !

[CBR600]

Last I read was this. BMW Car sales are down, and down pretty significantly. MINI Sales are UP BIG TIME. So Overall BMW Group (which combines BMW Car and MINI) sales are up very slightly.

So moral of the story? MINI is saving BMW right now :)

I'm really happy that the mini-e came out, I agree with ya and can't wait to see the electric mini actually driving around the streets..... good times ahead !

Mini must be one of only a few cars models out there actually up in sales. Last months car sales figures I saw on some car blogs was GRIM :(

I see lots of people on other forums switching or buying Clubmans too so Mini sales will continue to go up since theres even more models now.

[Jared]

Mini must be one of only a few cars models out there actually up in sales. Last months car sales figures I saw on some car blogs was GRIM :(

I see lots of people on other forums switching or buying Clubmans too so Mini sales will continue to go up since theres even more models now.

I just hope the mini-e becomes a production reality soon, that will give mini a nice bump in sales. I just hope that stupid yellow plug isnt standard :)

[Mess11]

Here's my own answer!
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/by-the-numbers-october-2008-thanks-gmac-edition/


MINI sales were up +56.4% this October 2008 compared to last year's October. Looks like we've picked a winner in this economy folks. Look at that chart every other brand is way down in sales!!

[Jared]

Here's my own answer!
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/by-the-numbers-october-2008-thanks-gmac-edition/


MINI sales were up +56.4% this October 2008 compared to last year's October. Looks like we've picked a winner in this economy folks. Look at that chart every other brand is way down in sales!!

Thats rediculous, these numbers are crazy. I think being on a corporate VP at Mini right now is a pretty good job :) Well cheers to a 50% increase in sales, can't say the car doesn't deserve it, but I hate to see the rest of the car world suffering so badly...

[P&M]

I don't believe those numbers either. I think MINI sales are good right now. My MINI dealer sales guys are not going hungry by any means. However due to slowing sales the factory in Oxford is closing for a full month this year rather then the normal 2 week period. This is entirley due to the slow down in orders. So the number to me does not seem correct.

Regardless I think MINI is doing ok but nowhere near the level earlier this year. You can get a car now in a couple of months versus 6 or 8 much earlier in the year.

Anyway, that is my take on things.

Regards,

Pat

[SuperBaby]

I'm currently negotiating with a Mini dealer to buy a Clubman, so I'm very interested in this topic. I agree that Mini's stated sales figures seem amazingly high given the economy, but I have a theory why Mini's numbers are so good.

As we all know most Mini's are sold custom made to the buyer's specs. I would guess each sale gets officially logged not when the buyer pays their deposit, but when the Mini actually delivers the car and the buyer forks over all the money. So cars being sold now were actually ordered about 3 months ago, when the economy was just starting to tank and gas prices were still around $4.00. I also assume most buyers secure financing before they put down their deposit, so the most recent tightening of credit still isn't an issue for those people.

But I looked at the November sales figures just posted on BMW's site and Mini's numbers are still holding up. I expected to see at least some drop, since the markets started going sour in August. I guess it depends on what the current wait times are. If the December numbers end up being high then I think my theory is bunk, but I'm hoping the numbers drop off a cliff. Nonetheless, I don't expect Mini to ever be hurting as much most car makers are right now.


-Chris

[Jared]

I'm currently negotiating with a Mini dealer to buy a Clubman, so I'm very interested in this topic. I agree that Mini's stated sales figures seem amazingly high given the economy, but I have a theory why Mini's numbers are so good.

As we all know most Mini's are sold custom made to the buyer's specs. I would guess each sale gets officially logged not when the buyer pays their deposit, but when the Mini actually delivers the car and the buyer forks over all the money. So cars being sold now were actually ordered about 3 months ago, when the economy was just starting to tank and gas prices were still around $4.00. I also assume most buyers secure financing before they put down their deposit, so the most recent tightening of credit still isn't an issue for those people.

But I looked at the November sales figures just posted on BMW's site and Mini's numbers are still holding up. I expected to see at least some drop, since the markets started going sour in August. I guess it depends on what the current wait times are. If the December numbers end up being high then I think my theory is bunk, but I'm hoping the numbers drop off a cliff. Nonetheless, I don't expect Mini to ever be hurting as much most car makers are right now.


-Chris


Your theory might be right but since the economy has been in a constant downward spiral so far I would expect that the mini figures would hold even based on where they are which would mean continued big numbers as compared to last year :D

[mkaresh]

Supply was less than demand earlier. So even if demand falls off a bit...

The delay to delivery theory also makes sense.

[bmwmini]

they are doing much better than luxury cars ill tell you that