UK celebrates 3m Minis 02 | 12 | 2016

    THE THREE-MILLIONTH Mini has been built at BMW’s production plant in Oxford, which started production in 2001. The model, a John Cooper Works Clubman, is the first model to combine the latest John Cooper Works performance enhancements and a new ALL4 all-wheel drive system.

    From around 300 cars a day in 2001 to around 1000 built to order cars today, the 4500 strong workforce at Oxford produce one new Mini almost every minute. Around 80% of Minis built in the UK are exported to more than 110 markets across the world.

    “It’s great to be back in Oxford to mark this fantastic MINI production milestone,” Oliver Zipse, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production, said.

    Related: Mini reveals 2017 Countryman

    “Since we began building Minis back in 2001, the car has proved to be hugely popular with customers right around the world. The passion and commitment that everyone here at the plant has for building a high-quality product is central to that success.

    “The three-millionth Oxford-built Mini is a remarkable achievement. Congratulations to everyone who has played their part in making this celebration possible.”

    The achievement was also welcomed by Frank Bachmann, managing director of Plant Oxford.

    “Hitting this milestone is a fantastic achievement for everyone on the team here at Oxford,” he said. “Building the volume of high-quality cars that we have over the past 15 years is something everyone working here can be very proud of.”

    Sales of Mini, both in the UK and internationally, have gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years. In its first year, nearly 40,000 Minis were sold worldwide. By 2015 this number had risen to nearly 340,000.

    Related: Mini launches first plug-in hybrid

    Three UK plants have a part to play in its production: Hams Hall near Birmingham makes engines; Swindon produces body pressings and sub-assemblies for Mini; and this all comes together at Oxford with body shell production, paint and final assembly.

    Together these plants have helped to generate and sustain employment for thousands of people directly and indirectly though the wider supply chain and retailers.

    Since 2000, £1.75 billion has been invested by BMW Group at the three plants and at Oxford this has included a state-of-the-art paintshop, a high-technology body building facility, a new final assembly area, a new logistics centre, Quality and Engineering Centre and the Minicademy, where the plant’s apprentices are trained.

    Models built at Oxford today include three- and five-door Mini Hatch, the Clubman — including the Plant’s first all-wheel drive ALL4 model – and the high-performance Mini John Cooper Works Hatch.

    Related: New Mini Connected app

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    Jim McGill

     

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