Mini’s Oxford factory is running flat out, but there are no plans to build new factories anywhere else around the globe – with the exception of a new 4×4 cross-over model due to be launched in 2010.
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This will be built by Austrian company Steyr in its own plant and Mini boss Kay Segler said this was a special case.
“The technology on the cross-over is specialised and Steyr is well known in this field. Apart from that we do not intend to build Minis anywhere else other than Oxford.”
The UK factory built 222,875 Minis last year, up from 188,077 in 2006. It is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Segler said BMW was not tempted to produce its Mini models in fast growing markets such as China or India.
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By GlobalDataHe said: “We are not just selling cars. We are building a brand and we have a responsibility to BMW in terms of making a return, to our dealers so that they don’t have to discount prices and to our customers to keep demand high and so resale values remain strong.”
Before the cross-over model there is the John Cooper Works Mini which takes to the road this summer and the updated convertible will be launched next year.
The UK remains the strongest market with around 50,000 sales in 2007, followed by the United States, (42,000) and Germany (30,000).
