The six-storey facility cost Bt150 million and has a total area of 6,000 square metres according to Sanhavuth Thammachuanviriya, managing director of the Millennium Auto Group.

Millennium customers previously had to visit the company's Langsuan facility, which consisted only of a Mini showroom, while servicing was done at Millennium's BMW service centre in Lat Phrao.

"Millennium has been in the Langsuan Mini showroom since 2002, and after five successful years we decided it was time to expand our facility," Sanhavuth said.

There are 1,200 Mini customers in Thailand.

David Barry Panton, senior vice president for sales and marketing in Asia-Pacific (except China), the Middle East and African and Caribbean markets for BMW AG, said: "Apart from the main markets in the US and Europe, Asia represents an important market for Mini's continuous growth."

The new car showroom and an Internet cafe are located on the first floor, while the Mini "Next" used-car showroom is on the second floor. Floors three and four are for servicing and parts inventory, with eight service bays that can be expanded to 16 in the future. Parking is on the fifth floor. An Italian restaurant called "Fuzio Stylish Restaurant and Bar" sits on the sixth floor and features a panoramic view of the city.

Sethipong Anutarasoti, general manager for Mini in Thailand, said the facility was expected to serve as a gathering place for Mini-owners and enthusiasts.

"Mini showrooms used to be incorporated in BMW showrooms, but now it is solely Mini," he said. "When this facility is fully ready, we will be linked directly with Mini in Europe."

Kingsley Wijayasinha

The Nation