MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – February 26, 2010: Australia’s highest achieving MINI Garages have been honoured in the annual MINI Excellence Awards.

This year, the two MINI Excellence awards for metropolitan dealers went to Brisbane MINI Garage – for the third year running, and to Trivett Classic MINI Garage located in Parramatta, Sydney.

Worthington MINI Garage, based in Gosford NSW, took out the MINI Excellence award for best rural dealer.

The MINI Excellence awards distinguish top performing MINI Garages who excel in areas of customer service and loyalty, new and used sales as well as a host of other metrics that underpin the MINI brand.

“It took a special kind of dealer to shine in 2009 and these award winning MINI dealers certainly shone. Not only in terms of our high local standards, but also when benchmarked against their counterparts from around the globe. Their strong and consistent focus towards MINI provides us with valuable partnerships and customers with excellence in customer service” said Justin Hocevar, National Manager, MINI.

The strong network of 21 MINI Garages across the nation delivered over 2,000 new MINI vehicles last year in what was one of the toughest years the automotive industry has experienced. The MINI brand performed exceptionally well with an improved market share by 39% and a sales outcome on par with the previous year.

The future is exciting for MINI with the recent announcement of the brand’s fourth model – the MINI Countryman. Offering more space than ever before, featuring an elevated seating position and additional ground clearance as well as ALL4 all-wheel drive, the MINI Countryman introduces brand new opportunities for MINI in Australia.

Around the corner, the exclusive MINI John Cooper Works WC50 will make its public display debut at next months Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix, where the MINI Challenge race series will be entertaining the crowd.