News > 2006 to be an off year for MINI Cooper sales

How dare we predict that new MINI sales will fall off for the first time ever in 2006? There will be longer wait times, MINI showrooms will sell out of stock, and new MINI Cooper owners will be frustratingly fewer than at any time since its introduction in the States in 2001.

What???

The reasons are actually quite simple. Remember that new Oxford Plant we spoke of (see BMW is investing BIG $ in MINI factory expansion)? That’s just one of several construction projects that will slow production – or even bring it temporarily to a halt – in early ’06.

This, plus the introduction of the next generation MINI expected as early as late summer, means less production and fewer sales in 2006. But when the next generation hits the showrooms, sales are expected to soar to well over 200,000 for the production year, compared to the just-released milestone of 200,000 for 2005.

Fuel for thought … you might consider selling your MINI Cooper during this drought in anticipation of scoring a next gen model when they do arrive.