Here’s the speech by Ian Robertson from the MINI press conference at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show and a video from the world premier.

Ladies and Gentlemen—

Bonjour! Welcome to MINI!

I’m always thrilled to see how many people come to join us at MINI.
But that’s what this brand is all about. MINI is simply appealing!

I’d like to talk to you about three topics today.

First: Business at MINI

Second: MINIMALISM

And third, the world premiere of the MINI Countryman

MINI celebrated its 50th birthday last year and it proved that it is, without a doubt, the most exciting small car brand in the world.

Nearly ten years ago, the BMW Group created the premium small car segment with the new MINI – because we believed that this icon had everything it takes to be a true premium brand.
The success MINI has enjoyed in the premium segment is testimony to this. Nothing can touch the emotional appeal of the MINI in this segment. We are proud to say that we don’t just have customers at MINI, we have fans.

We recently created a new global brand claim, “BE MINI”, which marks the eighth year of the brand re-launch. “BE MINI” represents a global approach to all products in the range.

It underscores that even though the MINI portfolio is expanding, all models share the same
core attributes:

-         Unique design

-         Signature Go-Kart driving fun

-         Clever use of space

-         And of course, endless options for customization.

The new claim “BE MINI” accentuates that MINI is not just an A-to-B car: MINI is a brand that projects an outgoing and spontaneous attitude to life.

So how is business at MINI?
If we take a quick look at last year, MINI did an excellent job and held its own in challenging times. All in all, sales were down only slightly and MINI increased its market share.

MINI is clearly the most successful and fastest growing brand in its segment.

This year has started off very well, with a substantial increase in sales. There’s been strong growth in just about all of the markets. China, Korea, Australia, Russia and Belgium saw an all-time high in January sales. Worldwide, over 20 percent more vehicles were delivered in January compared to the previous year. And February has continued that upward trend with sales in the double digits. We’ve also seen good solid growth this year in MINI’s key markets: USA, UK and Germany.

The US is the largest single market for MINI and we are preparing for even further growth there. This year, MINI USA will expand from 90 to 100 exclusive stores by summer time and will continue to grow thereafter.

Worldwide, we are aiming for growth in the single-digit percentage range over the whole year for MINI. And of course the new MINI Countryman – which we will unveil in a moment – will contribute significantly to this growth.

There’s no doubt that MINI has an exciting future.

Another reason I say this is because MINI also stands for MINIMALISM when it comes to fuel efficiency. MINIMALISM simply means less consumption and emissions, with the same driving fun. This makes MINI the perfect match for environmentally-conscious customers. It is unrivalled in its segment when it comes to superb fuel efficiency and high performance. Almost all MINI models have CO2 emissions below 140 g/km.

We have achieved a lot with MINIMALISM over the years:
Did you know that between 2006 and 2009, no other brand reduced emissions more in Europe than MINI?

This year we have taken MINIMALISM one step further with our petrol engines. Yesterday we launched the new MINI One Convertible and the MINI One MINIMALIST. The MINI One Convertible means you can enjoy open-air driving fun with even more fresh air. And the MINI One MINIMALIST will be the most environmentally-friendly petrol MINI yet.

We have combined various fuel-saving technologies for this model to cut CO2 emissions and
fuel consumption by a further six percent.

The MINI product portfolio is completely up-to-date and more appealing than ever.
MINI is a brand which is so exciting and has so much potential. The MINI product family will double over the next years from three to six models.

And today I am very proud to present the world premiere of the fourth member of the MINI family!

The MINI Countryman is our answer to the needs of customers who were looking for a bit more MINI and a MINI which goes far beyond urban boundaries. It’s a totally new concept for the small-car premium segment and a first for MINI.  It’s the first MINI which has four doors, four-wheel-drive, four individual seats and measures over four metres long.

Hats off to the MINI Countryman!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a Crossover, the MINI Countryman bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a Sports Activity Vehicle.  It’s a true all-rounder! The MINI Countryman is a completely new car, unprecedented in the history of the Mini. But its likeness to the rest of its family is immediately apparent. And true to MINI’s motto – it’s MINI on the outside, Maxi on the inside. It offers more space and greater flexibility, as well as typical MINI fun. The extra interior space is made possible by the wheelbase of the car, which has grown to 2,6m – and by the additional height of the body.

There are four individual seats, but you can exchange the two rear seats for a three-seat option. The luggage compartment is very spacious. With the two rear seats folded down, there is over one thousand litres of space available. And the tailgate opens up wide which is great for loading bulky items such as bikes, kite-surfing equipment or even your St. Bernhard!
The slightly elevated seating in the MINI Countryman makes it easy to enter and exit the vehicle and it also allows for improved road vision.

One feature that is unique to this model is the innovative MINI Centre Rail. This aluminium track stretches from the front to the rear of the interior and offers storage for personal items.
For all of those gadget fans: The Centre Rail has neatly integrated electrical and USB connections for seamless integration of smartphones, such as the iPhone, and other devices.

And I’m sure that MINI fans will also love the brand new in-car entertainment system, MINI Connected. This innovative system will be available as an option with the MINI Countryman.
Just to name one feature – it has the first in-car web radio, which means the cosmopolitan MINI driver can listen to radio stations from all over the world.

As I mentioned, the MINI Countryman is the first MINI which offers all-wheel-drive. The MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper D will be available with the optional permanent all-wheel-drive system, which we call MINI ALL4.

Finally, let’s talk about power: At market launch in Europe on 18th September the Countryman will offer a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines. Performance ranges from 90hp in the MINI One D Countryman to 184hp in the MINI Cooper S Countryman.

Thanks to a range of MINIMALISM features, it is the leader in its class, in terms of eco-friendliness.

The MINI Countryman unites all the characteristics customers want in one package. It suits any age group and is a car for singles, couples and families alike.

Above all, it underscores the MINI brand’s character: ever so unique, ever so progressive, and ever so MINI.

Thank you for being with us today.