SPEECH DR. WOLFGANG ARMBRECHT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT BRAND MANAGEMENT MINI, BMW AG

Ladies and Gentlemen

Welcome to the MINI stand here at the 10th Auto China!

I am delighted to welcome you here today on behalf of one of the world's most
emotional brands. This is MINI's third appearance at the Auto China - I myself
am here for the first time. I would like to inspire you and to do this I have
three important supporting factors: firstly - the success of a global premium
brand, secondly - a Chinese motor show premiere and third - an Asian premiere.

The global fascination with MINI began in London on 26 August 1959. Please
allow me to share some of this fascination with you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, what does this Mini stand for?

For authentic and emotional design, unique go-kart feeling, clever use of space
and not to forget a wide range of customization options. To make a long story
short: This car represents almost 50 years of automotive and lifestyle history!

Sir Alec Issigonis, the engineer and designer-or maybe it would be more
appropriate to say: the father-of the classic Mini, gave this car its authentic
form with wheels at the outer edges and a transversely fitted engine. Other
characteristic features included the large, round headlights, the hexagon
grille, and the straight shoulder and roof lines.

All Minis provided great handling and soon became famous among car experts for
their typical go-kart feeling. Thanks to the clever use of space, the passenger
compartment took up 80 percent of the three-meter long car body. Customisation
has been a top priority at MINI from day one: Rally stripes on the bonnet,
contrasting white roofs, and numbers on the doors guaranteed a unique and thus
individual appearance.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what the 1959 Mini stood for!

And the same applies today. Sir Alec Issigonis's words still hold true, and
maybe even more so: "The most important thing I have learned is: if you want to
want to achieve something, you must never copy your competitors." The MINI is
still characterized by short overhangs, a short body length and wheels at the
outer edges. Other distinguishing features that have remained unchanged with
the New MINI are its authentic and emotional design as well as the unique
go-kart feeling. We know that these are the two top criteria for buying a MINI,
also here in China. It is a fact: The MINI brand is authentic to the core.

But its heritage is not the only outstanding feature of this premium small car;
the product substance also speaks in its favour: MINI offers high-quality
workmanship and sophisticated drive technology. The cars provide convincing
safety features, great fuel efficiency and maximum reliability. As a result,
their resale value is excellent.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today the MINI brand stands for enthusiasm,
sustainability and lifestyle spanning generations and social groups.

It is the combination of these factors that have made MINI a global success!
Since its relaunch in 2001, we have sold almost 1.2 million units. Following
two-digit growth rates in 2007, new record sales will also be achieved in 2008.
In the first three months of this year, more than 58,000 customers worldwide
bought a MINI-24 percent more than in the same period last year. And MINI is
even more successful in China! In Mainland China, we have already delivered 723
MINIs to customers. We had good reason to be pleased with sales to Mainland
China in 2007, which doubled to a total of 2,200 units (+108 %). But we have
even more reason to be pleased today with sales having soared by another 112
percent since the beginning of the year. As we want to build even closer
relationships with our Chinese customers, we opened 13 new dealerships in 2007.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to move on to our Chinese motorshow
premiere: the MINI Clubman!

Once again, this car is a perfect manifestation of the motto: "From the
original to the original"!
On the one hand, the MINI Clubman is typically MINI: Its design elements and
go-kart feeling are unmistakable. And this car sports the typical MINI icons
that are so popular with design fans. The chassis technology which makes it so
much fun to drive a MINI has been revised. The MINI Clubman is equipped with a
1.6-litre engine that produces 120 horsepower and guarantees nought-to-one
hundred in 10.9 seconds for the automatic-transmission models. With a top speed
of 195 km/h, the MINI Clubman is the perfect small car for sporty drivers. And
what's even better: It only uses 6.8 litres of fuel for 100 km.

On the other hand, the MINI Clubman is totally different: A one-of-a-kind car,
the MINI Clubman represents a type of vehicle unparalleled in its class. It is
our modern-day interpretation of a classic "shooting brake"-combining elements
of a coupe with the characteristic split door at the rear. It was our intention
to make the MINI Clubman a contemporary reinterpretation of a Mini classic car
from the 1960s. This is why the MINI Clubman does not fit in with today's
vehicle classifications. It is in a class of its own.

As a very special five-door vehicle, the MINI Clubman has numerous unique
features:

The split door at the rear makes loading and unloading luggage so much easier.
Please go ahead and test it! This is the world's first cushioned split door to
facilitate opening and closing! And the club door on the right makes it much
easier for rear-seat passengers to enter and exit the car.

Considering that this MINI is less than four meters long, it is extremely
versatile: When you fold the rear seats, it has a luggage compartment of almost
1,000 liters.

The MINI Clubman offers a variety of customization options for the interior and
exterior which are second to none. Let me give you an example: Available as
optional equipment is the world's first ambient light with eight LEDs. So the
driver can change the color of the ambient light to match his or her mood.

And I assure you: The future of MINI will be just as individualistic and
extravagant.
We are going to expand the MINI portfolio further. The next model in the
pipeline is a MINI Crossover. Obviously, this car will also give drivers the
full MINI experience-fun to drive and the go-kart feeling. But there will be
additional functionalities.
However, before moving on to the finishing straight with my speech, I would
like to accelerate once more.

This is our Asian premiere: Please welcome the MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE
Race Car!

Dear motorsports enthusiasts: This is the fastest MINI in history! 211
horsepower (155 KW), a nought-to-one hundred time in 6.1 seconds and a top
speed of 240 km/h speak for themselves. And the MINI synonym for "maximum
driving fun" is now "John Cooper Works"! This brand also has an almost 50-year
history: John Cooper was a true gentleman, motorsports enthusiast, race driver
and entrepreneur. And John Cooper made MINI a race car. We owe to him the
initial homologation of the Cooper S. The new John Cooper Works CHALLENGE race
car can be ordered on the internet under www.MINI.com and be driven in club
sports. Speaking of which, 50 race cars will compete in the MINI CHALLENGE this
weekend, in Germany and in Australia.

In future, the entire MINI product range for sports car driving will carry the
John Cooper Works label. Which means that it will be an integral part of the
MINI brand-a result of the acquisition of the brand rights from John Cooper
Garages in January 2007. This MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE Race Car is the
first MINI in Asia to sport the new John Cooper Works logo, a symbol of
outstanding expertise in race driving, passion for performance and an
unorthodox spirit. All John Cooper Works components are a perfect fit for MINI
and are developed and manufactured to the highest quality standards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in addition to the two core models Hatch and Convertible,
we are now adding a third pillar to the MINI brand here in China. Please see
for yourselves how authentic the MINI models and the MINI Clubman are!

Have I already inspired you with my enthusiasm for the MINI brand and John
Cooper Works? Or do you need some more convincing? If so, I would be happy to
personally present the new models to you. Just come over and enjoy!

I hope you will have a great time here at the stand of the original: the
MINI!

Thank you very much!