MINI Canada announces launch of "MINI NEXT édition tricolore".

(Whitby, ON) - MINI Canada today announced the launch of "MINI NEXT édition
tricolore" in the province of Quebec, a fundraiser to benefit the Montreal
Canadiens Children's Foundation and the Quebec Society for Disabled Children.

Presented in partnership with MINI ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES, MINI FINANCIAL
SERVICES and Desjardins Securities, the draw for a 2003 certified pre-owned
MINI Cooper donated by MINI Canada will hopefully raise $120,000 for the two
worthy Quebec-based children's charities. With its hockey theme design, the
hood of the special edition MINI NEXT has been signed by the entire Montreal
Canadiens hockey team, making this vehicle a one-of-a-kind.

"MINI Canada is pleased to be associated with these fine children's charities,"
said Alain Lauziere, MINI Operations Manager, Eastern Region. "The main prize
to be won is a MINI Cooper signed by the Montreal Canadien's team, but it's
important to stress that Children are the real stars who will benefit from this
raffle. We hope that the generosity of hockey fans will help us raise not only
money for a good cause but also generate a few additional smiles from children
and their families when they need it the most."

The tickets are $2 each and will be on sale as of today, May 10, until
Saturday, September 30, 2006. The public can purchase tickets through the
volunteer network of both non profit organizations, at the Bell Centre Ticket
Office, as well as at any Greater Montreal MINI Retailers.The draw will take
place on Thursday, October 19, 2006, at 12:30 p.m., at the Complexe Desjardins.
Raffle details, rules and regulations and a list of vehicle appearances can be
found at www.MININEXTtricolore.ca or by visiting www.MINI.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

BMW Group Canada
Kevin Marcotte
Director, Corporate Communications
(905) 428-5005 / kevin.marcotte@bmwgroup.ca

Annemarie Gerber
Corporate Communications Specialist - Business, Lifestyle, Marketing and MINI
(905) 428-5076 / annemarie.gerber@bmwgroup.ca

Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation
Geneviève Paquette
Community Relations Manager
(514) 989-2881 / gpaquette@canadiens.com

PARTNERS AND BENEFICIARIES

MINI NEXT is MINI Canada's new MINI Certified Pre-owned Program. With MINI
NEXT, owners get everything MINI - cool styling, exceptional handling, miserly
fuel consumption, impressive winter capabilities and competitive MINI Financial
Services programs. MINI NEXT vehicles are hand selected, reconditioned,
certified, and backed by a comprehensive factory protection plan.

Every MINI NEXT meets the exacting standards and approval of MINI technicians
and is fully protected by MINI. Each MINI NEXT comes with:

- 5 day/300km money back guarantee
- 87-point checklist performed by MINI technicians
- MINI NEXT protection plan for up to 6 years or 120,000km
- 24-hour roadside assitance
- MINI service card

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW
AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group
Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail
financing and leasing programs on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles,
as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 39 BMW automobile retail centres, 18 BMW motorcycle retailers, and
22 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

Desjardins Securities is the brokerage arm of Desjardins Group, an integrated
cooperative financial group, the largest financial institution in Quebec, and
sixth largest in Canada. Desjardins Securities manages over $15 billion in
assets, and maintains more than 40 branches across Quebec and Ontario.
Desjardins Securities employs over 1,200 people to serve its retail, business
and institutional clients.

The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation assists children who are
underprivileged or sick, or who may have special needs by funding non-profit
groups dedicated to fighting poverty, improving their health and well-being, or
promoting sport among the less fortunate. Since its inception in 2000, the
Foundation has donated 3.3 million dollars to over a hundred non-profit
organizations all across the province of Quebec.

Children with disabilities are like all others, with needs, limitations, and
dreams of their own. Since 1930, the Quebec Society for Disabled Children has
been accompanying youngsters living with a disability to help make their dreams
come true. It also assists parents in their efforts to provide care, attention,
and support for their child.