Two-Million MINIs and Counting
Automaker celebrates milestone in production.
Web2Carz Contributing Writer
Published: August 31st, 2011
A decade after the start of MINI production in Oxford Britain, UK's Prime Minister David Cameron drove the two-millionth MINI out of the plant. Smiles were all around, and the MINI automaker continues to think big on the future of their popular little car.
Back in 2001, the Oxford Plant with a single shift of only 2,400 employees produced about 300 cars a day. Today, more than 3,700 employees in two shifts builds about 900 cars a day, and the Oxford plant has doubled maximum capacity to 200,000 units per year.
"Production of the two millionth MINI comes on the back of strong demand worldwide. Our recent announcement of an additional £500 million investment in our UK MINI production facilities demonstrates the important role that Oxford plays in our global production network. The most essential factors in the success of MINI are the skills, passion and dedication of our associates," said Frank-Peter Arndt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
Having produced more than 216,302 vehicles in 2010 while exporting to more than 90 countries, MINI was the third largest vehicle manufacturer in the UK, and accounted for 17 percent of that nation's automotive production, reported the press release.
"It's a real privilege to drive this true British icon off the production line today. The 2 millionth MINI to be made here in Oxford is a fantastic symbol of the UK's strength in the global automotive industry and a great British manufacturing success story. MINI is not just a symbol of our industrial past, but also the great industrial future we want to build," said Prime Minister Cameron.
The Oxford Plant currently builds four MINI models: the MINI, MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and the new MINI Coupé. A fifth model, the MINI Roadster, will be added at the end of the year.
The special-anniversary edition Two-Millionth Mini is the prize of an ongoing MINI campaign on Facebook called "2 Million MINI -- 2 Million Faces." The campaign will ask 2 million MINI fans to upload their Facebook Profile pic to a mosaic of contestants. The contest is free to enter, and the winner will be notified by mail on September 30th.
[sources: MINI Press release]
