While MINI deliveries for the quarter were up 3.4% over the same quarter last year, October 2009 was dismal compared to October 2008. MINI USA reported sales of 4,176 automobiles, a decrease of 20.8 percent compared to 5,272 cars reported in the same month a year ago. In addition, year over year to date sales decreased 14.8%.
Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA, in his own inimitable way, spun it like this:
October played trick or treat with us and we got a mixed bag of news with no clear trend. While our dealers reported a lot of cautious customers and pragmatic buying choices, we also saw an inspiring performance in the West with sales being above last year.
Hey Jim, we don't know what additional data you are looking at but, unfortunately, the trend appears to be pretty clear - sales continue to drop.
