I was planing on purchase a Roadster in the near future. I hear they are discontinuing the production after 2015. Anybody have any ideas as to why?

 

There are several threads discussing this over in the Gen2/R59 section.

How about something like only 2500 per year were sold in the US, and the upcoming BMW Z2 is being built on the Mini Gen3 platform at the same price point, and the new SuperLegera might be coming as well.

I.e. lots of speculation but primarily low sales.

There are plenty available from the dealers right now, just no new builds. Six months from now they may be all gone.

 

Yes, no longer being built, but you can still find a few new 2015s at a dealer.

Besides low sales, MINI discontinued the Roadster (and Coupe) production line in Oxford due to the switch to the new (F56) platform. While BMW/MINI may someday have a replacement for the current Roadster, it will likely be a number of years.

But for those of us fortunate to have a Roadster, we'll continue to enjoy the ride!

 

Mini 2014 Output*

3-door Hard 150,937 New generation 2014
5-door Hard 30,456 Added 2014
Countryman 102,875 Redesign due 2016-17
Convertible 16,089 Redesign due 2015
Paceman... 11,217 Likely to be cut
Clubman... 7,962 Redesign due 2015
Coupe...... 2,404 Production ends 2015
Roadster... 2,886 Production ends 2015

* IHS Automotive estimates

It just wasn't worth it to BMW to maintain a different platform for ~5,000 cars. Earlier there was 'buzz' about a new smaller platform that would support the coupe, the roadster, and perhaps a BMW 'miata' - but the Z2 went bigger.

 

If you really have to have a roadster you wouldn't go wrong looking at the Miata. Especially the new 2016 coming out shortly.

 

What whapp said.

Mazda starts accepting pre-orders for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata on May 5th. There is a 'launch edition' that asks a very reasonable $170 MSRP premium if you like red exterior/tan interior. 2,332 lbs of fun for an MSRP of $30,195.