Mini Clubman Could Be Scarce in U.S.

Blogging all things Mini, Motoringfile.com reports that BMW is limiting exports of its new Mini Cooper Clubman to the U.S. While demand will probably be healthy, the U.S. dollar is not, and the company won’t make as much selling the car here as it will in other countries. Italy seems to be the benefactor in all this.

What does this mean to those waiting to buy a Mini Clubman? Go to your Mini dealer now and put in an order. Many dealers are getting a scant four models a month for the first few months after the car comes out in February. Even the regular Mini Cooper coupe has one of the shortest turnaround times in the business. It seems the Clubman will be no different.

Clubman to Have Limited Availability in US (Motoringfile.com)

Comments

[poop]

IT LOOKS LIKE A PRICING STRATEGY FOR MINI TO JACK THE PRICE UP FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO BUY THE LATEST AND GREATEST.

[Mart]

Blame the government for persueing an economic policy that has driven down the value of the dollar to an extent where it is beginning to limit choice for consumers to products that can be made as cheaply as possibly.

Eventually you will see all products imported to this country made more cheaply, featuring less gadgets and eventually less availability of products that the rest of the world takes for granted...

[ziggy]

Damn it!

[Bowrider]

Mart,
When I read your comments, I can't help but comment myself. Please lay off the government and learn a little about economics. And, clarify your second paragraph. You have no idea what economic policy our gov't us "pursueing." When the dollar drops in value relative to another currency (in this case, the Euro), BMW loses money when it converts the dollar into the Euro after selling vehicles in the U.S.. If fewer Mini Clubmans result in a higher price (another economic principle you probably shouldn't comment on), then so be it. That's the way capitalism works. If you prefer communism (judging from your comment here in the past, you do), please move.

Are you also pissed off at the other countries that peg their currency to the dollar? Maybe you read a lot about cars, but clearly you don't read a lot about economics.

On another note, Merry Christmas!

[Per Olaf]

BMW should be happy that the cars they made in America can get a huge profit when they send them to Europe...

The strategy is probably to have huge mark ups as it happened with the new FJ Cruiser... funny thing the FJ now have huge rebates.

It is just a marketing strategy, to create interest between the few rich kids who are going to buy this car.