UK SALES 2015 - MINI copies everyone else by having a record year in the UK, but only just.

• 63,581 registrations in 2015 – a record year for MINI UK driven by a strong retail sales performance
• 5-door Hatch and new MINI Clubman delivered 44 per cent increase in Corporate sales
• John Cooper Works performance brand achieved best performance since launch

MINI UK is today reporting a record sales year in 2015, with 63,581 full year registrations. The milestone represents MINI’s 6th year of consecutive growth in the United Kingdom, with vehicle registrations up 17.9 per cent on 2014, securing the brand 2.41 per cent of the market.

MINI 3-door Hatch remained the brand’s biggest selling model, closely followed by its 5-door sibling. In the first full calendar year of sales, 44,560 Hatch models were sold in 2015 (3-door Hatch 25,443, 5-door Hatch 19,117).

MINI’s performance brand, John Cooper Works, also celebrated a record year following the June launch of MINI John Cooper Works Hatch. The fastest production MINI ever built with a 0-62 time of just 6.1 seconds, 1,487 John Cooper Works Hatch models were sold last year. Total John Cooper Works sales across the range increased 134 per cent to 2,213 vehicles.

Ending the year in style, new MINI Clubman joined the model family in the last quarter of 2015. The largest and most refined MINI to date, Clubman contributed 1,676 registrations from its launch on 31st October. 2016 will see the first full calendar year of sales, with MINI Clubman expected to make further inroads into the retail and corporate market.

Overall corporate sales continued to drive the brand forward, with MINI 5-door Hatch delivering sustained growth. The brand recorded 44 per cent increase in sales to business and fleet customers, totaling 8,450 vehicles.

Chris Brownridge, Director, MINI UK, said: “2015 was a record busting year for MINI in the UK. Not only did MINI achieve its best ever retail and corporate sales performance, driven by new models including 5-door Hatch, but the John Cooper Works brand also achieved remarkable growth courtesy of the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch.

“With the recently launched MINI Clubman and the forthcoming MINI Convertible on sale in time for spring this year, 2016 is set to be another record breaking year for the brand.”

In March, the all-new MINI Convertible will launch in the UK. With major refinements against its predecessor, the car features a striking new design and significant enhancements to make open-topped MINI motoring even more dynamic, stylish and practical.