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70 Dealerships up for grabs - 01/15/2001
70 Mini Dealerships up for grabs
By: Charlie Romero, Roadfly.com, Editor-in-Chief
BMW plans on selecting 70 MINI dealers in February to sell the new MINI Cooper.
BMW will make its selection from more than 150 applications received from existing BMW dealers. Some of the requirements BMW is looking for are, a separate showroom and sales staff, a commitment to the internet and a strong previous track record with BMW. Jack Pitney, general manager of the U.S. MINI Division has said that applicants in major metro areas or those on the east and west coasts fit well into BMW's marketing plans.
The MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S are expected to go on sale in the U.S. in the March of 2002.
The base model of the MINI, the Cooper, will have a 1.6 liter, 115 hp engine and is expected to cost less than $18,000. BMW's goal is to sell 20,000 Minis in the U.S. market and as many as 100,000 units worldwide.
Look for the new MINI will go on sale in the United Kingdom over the summer and in Europe and Asia in the fall.
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