Reuters UK reports on news from Germany stating that BMW dealerships will be aced to better segregate sales space between BMW and MINI products. The news came from BMW Germany sales chief Karsten Engel who told auto publication Automobilwoche that “there cannot be different brands in the same showroom.”
Currently some German BMW dealerships sell MINI vehicles within their open-plan showrooms.
One of the reason for the further differentiation between the brands comes BMW’s upcoming plans to introduce their first front-wheel drive vehicle. As we reported in the past, BMW plans to introduce a Gran Turismo variant of the 1 Series. The 1 Series Gran Turismo, also known internally as Compact Activity Tourer, will be the first to make use of the new platform.
Next generation MINI will also make use of the same platform, but will cater to a different demographic.
Because the technological underpinnings of the new BMW cars are similar to that of the Mini, the Munich-based auto maker is pushing for more distinct sales areas.
First BMW front-wheel drive model will be launched in 2013.
Author: Horatiu Boeriu
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/10/05/bmw-t ... n-germany/