Mini sales soar in U.S., fuelled by soaring petrol prices

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By Ray Massey
Last updated at 11:41 PM on 23rd October 2008

Sales of the Mini in the United States have for the first time soared ahead of those in the UK.

A 27 per cent rise in U.S. sales in the year to September led to 40,694 Minis being sold in America. Over the same period in Britain, some 35,496 Minis were sold  -  a fall of 1.4 per cent.

On the move: Mini sales in the U.S have soared 27 per cent

The Mini is built at the company's factory in Oxford which employs 4,700 people and produces around 240,000 vehicles a year, of which 80 per cent are for export.

The soaring price of petrol has fuelled the tiny motor's American success.

Maker BMW's first British main board member, Ian Robertson told the annual BMW press dinner at London's Claridges Hotel: 'The Mini has seen phenomenal growth in the United States. It's now the largest market  -  and ahead of the UK for the first time in history.'

Robertson, the former head of UK subsidiary Rolls-Royce who took over as BMW's global head of sales and marketing in the spring, said the Mini's success bucked the trend of the international markets.

He said world economies were in 'unchartered waters', adding: 'Maybe we are in the eye of the storm at the moment. Events have taken everyone by surprise.'

But he said the motor industry was 'resilient' and would bounce back.

An electric Mini that produces zero pollution and can be charged up from a domestic plug is to be launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.

Robertson said 500 electric Minis will be shipped to California, New York and New Jersey for testing with private and corporate customers on a one-year lease.

London and Munich are also set to take part in the trial.

Mini has already launched a Clubman 'estate' with double rear doors.

A 4X4 Mini called the Mini Crossover is to be built abroad by Magna-Steyr in Graz, Austria.

The original Mini was created in 1959 by the late Sir Alec Issigonis and next year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Source:  Dailymail.co.uk

Article Date: Oct 28, 2008
Car Accociations: NEW_MINI
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