Press release

HUNDREDS OF MINI OWNERS GATHER IN CHICAGO TO KICK OFF THE 2010 MINI TAKES THE STATES (MTTS) CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD RALLY

Atlanta, GA,  August 5, 2010.

For Release: IMMEDIATE

Contact: Nathalie Bauters
MINI Communications Manager
201-930-3166
nathalie.bauters@miniusa.com

PFPR Communications
Yvonne Malmgren, 586-453-2912
yvonne.malmgren@pfpr.com

In MINI's typical fun fashion, hundreds of MINI owners, MINI executives and VIPs will kick off the Midwestern leg of the 2010 MTTS cross-country road rally on August 8, 2010 with a MINI Countryman Preview Party at The Chicago Illuminating Company. The celebration marks the final kick-off event for the MTTS cross-country rally to Denver, Colorado, where thousands of participants will motor 8,000 miles while traveling across 19 states.

"MTTS 2010 is our largest rally endeavor yet, and is sure to be a great experience for everyone involved," said Jim McDowell – Vice President, MINI USA. "MINI owners who are motoring along the route, and friends of the brand who meet us at rally stops, are guaranteed life-memorable experiences as well as new friendships and great stories to take back home."

The all-new 2011 MINI Countryman will be on display at the celebration on Saturday evening, and it will make its American motoring debut along each of the five official MTTS routes to Denver. The Countryman's journey provides participants and guests alike the opportunity to view the latest addition to the MINI line-up for the first time outside of auto show displays. MINI USA dealers are already taking orders for the Countryman, which will arrive in US dealerships early next year.

Providing the perfect venue to showcase MINI's unique and unparalleled motoring culture, the Chicago Illuminating Company - with its sophisticated and state-of-the-art aesthetic - echoes the kind of innovation and design MINI embodies. The Chicago Illuminating Company is located at 19 East 21st Street, Chicago, IL 60616, and the party runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Media are invited and MINI executives will be available for interviews... please contact Nathalie Bauters to be registered for this event.

MTTS has steadily grown into a motoring enthusiast phenomenon since 2006, with this year's rally including "pit stops" for MINI owners at the legendary Indianapolis 500 Speedway and Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. MTTS caps off with a weekend-long festival in Denver, Colorado, August 13-15, 2010.

MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 99 MINI passenger car dealers, and 31 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

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Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwna.com. Additional information, images and video may be found at www.miniusanews.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.

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