Want an Electric Mini Cooper? First, You Must Qualify to Buy One

BMW's Mini division has a problem most automakers would love to have: too many people want to buy its cars. Specifically, they want an electric version of the wildly popular Mini Cooper. The company can't build enough examples of its proposed electric Mini to meet demand. While most automakers struggle to attract buyers, Mini has to figure out which buyers to choose.

In fact, nearly 2,000 people have applied to lease one of the 450 available cars. The German solution? A checklist, of course.

Autoblog Green explains, "There are a number of guidelines that must be met to receive a new MINI E, such as the average daily driving distance required. So far, the list has shrunk down to 1,000 applicants that have made it through the first set of cuts. All those who are chosen will live in or around Los Angeles, New York or New Jersey, have a lockable garage," and, of course, be able to make lease payments that would make a Maserati dealer blush -- $850 a month.

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