MINI celebrates first birthday in Canada

Over 2,500 vehicles delivered to new owners in first twelve months in market,
also captures the title of 2003 "North American Car of the Year".

Whitby, Ontario, ... This Saturday, March 22nd marks the new MINI brand's first
birthday in Canada. Both models of the MINI brand, the MINI Cooper and the
supercharged MINI Cooper S, have excelled over the past twelve months. Over
2,500 MINIs have been delivered during its first full year on the Canadian
market. The MINI's incredible combination of performance, style and market
impact also led to its naming as "2003 North American Car of the Year".

"Reintroducing a brand after a twenty year absence in Canada was an exciting
challenge," comments Rob Van Shaik, National Manager, MINI Canada. "It has
been tremendously rewarding to witness the MINI capture and hold the interest
of the Canadian public. This continuing passion for MINI definitely proves
that the product itself has lived up to MINI's legacy as a small car that packs
a powerful punch."

Highlights of MINI's first twelve months in Canada include:

Mar. '02
MINI makes its debut as the first 500 MINI Coopers available to customers in
Canada are reserved through the web-based "Inline Online" promotion.

Eager MINI enthusiasts swarm MINI's 14 retail centers across Canada on March
22, some arriving as early as 4:00 am to be the first through the doors on
opening day. Retailers of the distinctively MINI showrooms report overwhelming
numbers of visitors, eager test-drivers and phenomenal reactions from MINI
customers.

While sitting in his new office at MINI Markham (Ontario), Jim Cochrane,
Retailer Principal, hears repetitive thumping noises coming from somewhere in
the new building. What he originally thought was a leaking water pipe was in
fact a far more welcome sound - the constant opening and closing of the door to
his new MINI showroom!

Apr. '02
The first 274 Canadians take delivery of their MINIs with the first delivery
taking place at MINI Winnipeg.

Owners of new MINIs become habitually late for work as they happily add 15
minutes to their daily commute to accommodate inquiries from interested gas
station attendants, parking lot neighbours and fellow drivers.

May '02
More MINIs are spotted in the streets and in the media as the MINI in Ice - a
lifesize ice carving independently undertaken by Ontario's Iceculture Inc. -
receives media coverage both in Canada and overseas. News of Canada's "cool"
MINI reaches as far abroad as Australia.

500 MINIs now motor on Canadian roads.

Jun. '02

A hydrogen-fuelled MINI package study debuts at the BMW CleanEnergy exhibit in
Montreal, Quebec, showcasing the applicability of hydrogen fuel technology in a
wide range of vehicles.

New MINIs and Classic Minis officially meet for the first time at Party MINI.
The event takes place during F1 weekend on Peel Street in Montreal, with over
25,000 people witnessing the reunion.

Jul. '02
The new MINI makes its debut on the big screen in Austin Powers: Goldmember.
The star vehicle takes to the streets in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to
sign autographs and pose for photos with its growing fan base.

The MINI's wide appeal as the vehicle for the true driving enthusiast is
strengthened off screen as well. The most experienced MINI owner in Canada is
88 years young! Customers trade in everything from a Porsche 911 Turbo to a
Mercedes-Benz S Class to become new MINI owners!

Aug. '02
MINI's unconventional marketing campaign persists as lifesize MINIs appear on
billboards in downtown Toronto. The installation of the boards requires 48
hours and a tremendous amount of engineering ingenuity.

Meanwhile, as of August 2002, over 1,000 MINIs have been delivered to new
owners across Canada.

Sep. '02
The MINI retail network expands in Western Canada with the grand opening of
MINI Saskatoon.

Spiritwood, Saskatchewan (pop.1000) joins Middleton, Nova Scotia (pop.1600) as
the home of proud new MINI owners.

Oct. '02
MINI continues to highlight innovation with the introduction of the optional
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) now available on the MINI Cooper in
Canada.

In addition, as a testament to the high-level of safety technology that comes
standard on both MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S models, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) awards MINI four stars for its crash-test
results.

1500 MINIs are now motoring on Canadian roads.

Nov. '02
Canadian Olympic gold medallist Marc Gagnon and three Canadians travel to
Barcelona, Spain to compete against teams from 17 other countries to be the
first to solve MISSION MINI, a fiction-turned-reality adventure featuring the
MINI Cooper S. Over 4,500 Canadians register on-line at www.mini.ca for a
chance to participate.

Dec. '02
Newsstand tabloid The Weekly World News reports MINI stolen by legendary "Bat
Boy".

The 2000th MINI takes to Canadian roads.

Jan. '03
MINI is named 2003 "North American Car of the Year". In addition it receives
accolades from Natural Resources Canada by winning the EnerGuide award for
"Most Fuel Efficient" vehicle in its class.

MINI Crowfoot opens doors in Calgary Alberta becoming the 16th MINI Retail
facility in Canada.

Feb. '03
The MINI's prowess in handling the Canadian winter is firmly established with
the introduction of the MINI Winter Driving Challenge initiative.

For true cold-weather aficionados, the Discovery Channel's Monster Garage
morphs a MINI Cooper into a 300 hp snow machine.

Mar. '03
MINI's performance DNA is reinforced as MINI Canada announces the John Cooper
Works Tuning Kits will be available from Canadian retailers beginning in summer
2003. The tuning kits, engineered and produced by legendary John Cooper
Garages, boost the engine power of the MINI Cooper S to 200 hp. It is the only
factory installed and fully manufacturer warranteed tuning kit available.

Over 2500 MINIs now make Canadian roads their home.

Priced in Canada at $25,200 and $29,950 respectively, both the MINI Cooper and
the MINI Cooper S offer the best combination of safety, handling, performance,
and fuel efficiency in their class.

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 the 2003 North American
Car of the Year - 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 35 independent BMW retail
centres, 16 independent BMW motorcycle retailers, and 16 MINI retailers
represents the BMW Group across the country.