BMW’s Mini plant on the outskirts of Oxford, England, has now built over 1m cars for export.
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Over 80% of output is shipped out of the UK and a key market, the US, saw sales up 33.6% to 26,400 units in the first half boosted by the new Clubman version and customers ‘downsizing’ from SUVs and trucks.
Worldwide H1 sales rose 17.9% and one of every five models sold now is the Clubman ‘wagon’ version.
Plant Oxford managing Oliver Zipse said: “Since [the Mini brand was launched] we have seen a significant increase in export from less than 60% in 2001 to over 80% this year.”
The plant employs 4,700 on three shifts building up to 800 cars a day, seven days a week. Another 2,100 work in a pressing plant in Swindon and the Hams Hall engine plant near Birmingham; the three plants form the so-called Mini production triangle here in the UK.
