FRANKFURT, June 23 (Reuters) - BMW plans to expand the U.S. dealership network for its cult Mini brand by 17 outlets to a total of 100 over the course of the next 18 months, Mini said late on Monday.
"Starting in 2011, our aim is to raise MINI sales by a double-digit percentage compared with last year's total of 54,077 cars delivered and this will correspond with a substantial expansion of our network coverage," Mini USA Vice President Jim McDowell said in a statement.
On Monday, automotive research and forecasting group J.D. Power said BMW's Mini brand dropped one place to come last in its benchmark annual Initial Quality Study, which surveys U.S. car buyers opinions after 90 days of ownership.
Mini will open three new dealerships on the West coast, five in the midwest and southwest as well as two in the Northeast. The remaining seven will open in the South.
(Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner; editing by Simon Jessop)