MINI's growth spurt

Two million sales strong, retro brand MINI is expanding into new markets and preparing new models to stay on the boil
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Iconic retro brand MINI is fighting fit and making bold plans for the future. At the Frankfurt Motor Show this week, BMW executive Ian Robertson delivered an upbeat presentation, commencing with a couple of sales-related highpoints for the company.

"Just a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the two millionth MINI rolling off the line at plant Oxford in the United Kingdom," said Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales & Marketing. The recently launched Countryman SUV has notched up 66,000 sales, according to Robertson and has "propelled MINI to new sales records."

"There's no doubt MINI has become a significant part of the BMW Group," he continued, "with every sixth car sold sporting a MINI badge."

In Germany, MINI's third largest market (and home to the Frankfurt motor show of course), the brand's sales have soared by 18 per cent in year to date sales. In the company's largest market — the USA — sales have picked up 27 per cent. Globally, 180,000 units of MINI product have been sold during 2011 so far.

The brand — known for its small car stable — is a surprise juggernaut, and the company is kicking goals in one of the rapidly emerging BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India, China] economies, Brazil. On top of that, MINI plans to launch in India next year. India is the world's largest right-hand drive market, and the premium brand, with its British heritage and small-car footprint is set to be a sure-fire success in the subcontinent.

Not content with growing sales through a broader representation in global markets however, MINI will also enhance its global sales volumes with new product.

In the prelude to the introduction of the new MINI Coupe, Robertson announced that the new model would be joined by both the MINI Paceman — a two-door version of the Countryman previously confirmed for production — and the MINI Roadster, a topless version of the Coupe.

The Roadster will launch as soon as February next year and will take as its base the JCW-powered Coupe, which is not only the fastest production MINI ever, but also set new records during its development — reaching the market from conception within two years.

The Paceman is scheduled for production a little over a year from now, according to Robertson.

Picture: Ian Robertson (left) with head of MINI, Dr Kay Segler.

Read all the latest news and reveals from the Frankfurt Motor Show here.

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