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Our local business newspaper had an interesting article on the new Mini with some numbers I haven't seen elsewhere. Most of the info comes from the "Communications Manager" at Mini USA in Woodcliff Lake. Some of it is oriented to northern New England but I suspect many potential buyers and dealers in other small (population) states face the same problems.
Total production capacity = 140,000 cars / year
Number sent to US = 30,000 / year
Demand in US estimated at 60,000 / year
Current waiting list in US about 6 months (Was 9)
Number of BMW dealerships in the US = About 300
Number who said they would sell Mini = About 200
Cost of Mini sales setup = $250,000 - $300,000
Mini sales per year to justify cost = 300-350 units
Number of US dealers who could sell this many = About 70
Therefore, Mini USA will give dealerships to about 70 BMW dealers.
There are currenty no Mini dealers in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont and there aren't likely to be any in the foreseeable future. Maine has only one BMW dealer and they sell about 25 cars per month.
36 new Minis were registered in Maine in 2002, and 93 more this year through September. Most of these were bought out of state - the exceptions are "used" Minis bought from Maine dealers who get them from eBay and other non-BMW sources.
BMW intends to keep the supply below the demand to avoid having it become a "commodity" like the new Beetle.
[ 11-30-2003: Message edited by: coldplugs ]</p>
Total production capacity = 140,000 cars / year
Number sent to US = 30,000 / year
Demand in US estimated at 60,000 / year
Current waiting list in US about 6 months (Was 9)
Number of BMW dealerships in the US = About 300
Number who said they would sell Mini = About 200
Cost of Mini sales setup = $250,000 - $300,000
Mini sales per year to justify cost = 300-350 units
Number of US dealers who could sell this many = About 70
Therefore, Mini USA will give dealerships to about 70 BMW dealers.
There are currenty no Mini dealers in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont and there aren't likely to be any in the foreseeable future. Maine has only one BMW dealer and they sell about 25 cars per month.
36 new Minis were registered in Maine in 2002, and 93 more this year through September. Most of these were bought out of state - the exceptions are "used" Minis bought from Maine dealers who get them from eBay and other non-BMW sources.
BMW intends to keep the supply below the demand to avoid having it become a "commodity" like the new Beetle.
[ 11-30-2003: Message edited by: coldplugs ]</p>
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