The three millionth engine on Wednesday (6 June) was produced at the BMW Group engine plant at Hams Hall, near Birmingham in central England.
The milestone power unit – a 1.6-litre petrol I4 – will be despatched to the Mini plant at Oxford, destined for a car to be built for India, the brand’s 100th export market where sales started only last March.
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Over 80% of Minis produced in the UK are exported and more than 1.6m have been shipped abroad since the car was launched in 2001.
“This is a fantastic milestone for Plant Hams Hall,” said factory director, Nick Spencer who heads an 800 strong workforce.
The milestone follows a year of record production in 2011 and confirmation that facilities are to be upgraded at the Hams Hall plant to enable the production of future generation engines.
Last year, UK automotive exports were up 15% to an all time high of GBP29.5bn and engine production increased almost 5% to 2.5m units.
Hams Hall began with I4 engines for BMWs built in Germany and added Mini engines in 2006.
UK-built engines are supplied, in sequence, to plants in Germany (BMW), Austria (Magna Steyr, for the contract-built Mini Countryman) and Oxford (Mini) and currently power the BMW X1, 1 series and 3 series as well as all Mini petrol models.
