PressClub Belux · Article.
MINI viert 15 jaar premium rijplezier – made in Oxford.
Wed Apr 27 17:35:28 CEST 2016 Persbericht
Op 26 april 2001 rolde de eerste MINI van de productielijn in de fabriek in Oxford. Sinds de herlancering van het merk zijn meer dan 2,5 miljoen wagens geproduceerd in deze fabriek.
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BMW Group
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Author.
Christophe Weerts
BMW Group
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Op 26 april 2001 rolde de eerste MINI van de productielijn in de fabriek in Oxford. Sinds de herlancering van het merk zijn meer dan 2,5 miljoen wagens geproduceerd in deze fabriek.
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Today the employees of the British MINI plant in Oxford are looking
back to the 26th of April 2001. A new era began exactly 15 years ago
at the Oxford production site, which was steeped in tradition already
at that time. This is the date the first MINI to be produced after the
relaunch of the brand came off the production line – a MINI Cooper in
Chili Red with contrasting white paintwork for the roof and the
exterior mirror caps. Both for the location and the brand, a unique
success story began when the first small car of the premium segment
rolled off the line. Since 2001 more than 2.5 million MINI vehicles
have been manufactured in Oxford and sold in more that 110 countries worldwide.
Today the Oxford MINI plant ranks among the most state-of-the
art automobile manufacturing sites in the world. Employee figures rose
from 2,400 in the beginning to currently more than 4,500. The
workforce assembles approximately 1,000 vehicles per day in three
shifts. One of the special features of the production site is the
exceptional degree of flexibility. Currently four models are
manufactured in Oxford. Every car is built precisely to the customer’s
wishes based on the MINI typical wide selection of optional equipment,
paintwork, interior colours and trim variants. The extremely sporty
latest-generation John Cooper Works models are also “made in Oxford”.
“Building 1,000 individually configured premium automobiles every day
is a big challenge which our employees master thanks to their
exceptional level of passion and skill”, says plant manager Frank Bachmann.
Automotive production history in Oxford goes back more than 100
years. In 1931 already, the Morris Oxford went into production. It was
also called the “Bullnose” due to the shape of its radiator grille.
The first “million seller” to come out of this Oxford plant was the
Morris Minor in 1948 which was manufactured until 1971.
The classic Mini was produced in Oxford as the Morris Mini-Minor
from its birth year in 1959 to 1968. The decision to manufacture the
modern MINI here right from the start was taken in the spring of 2000.
Following a comprehensive and record-speed modernisation process
lasting only 13 months, everything was set for another revolution in
the small car segment. The MINI put in a stunning start as the British
original for the 21st century. The originally planned production
figures were quickly exceeded and a second body variant was taken up
into the model range. The first MINI Convertibles left the Oxford
plant right on time for the spring of 2004.
With the generation change in the autumn of 2006, the
manufacturing sites had now been fully integrated into the MINI
production triangle with Oxford (body construction, paintshop and
assembly), Swindon (press plant) and Hams Hall (engine construction).
Ongoing expansion and modernisation activities then made it possible
to both increase production capacity and broaden the model range as
well. In total the BMW Group has invested more than 1.75 billion GBP
into the manufacturing sites in Great Britain since 2000.
In autumn 2007 the start signal sounded in Oxford for the MINI
Clubman, the model version with longer wheelbase, more transport
capacity and innovative door design which was now sold alongside the
MINI with the traditional body design. The new edition of the MINI
Convertible came off the production line right on time for the 50th
anniversary of the brand. The MINI Coupé followed in 2011 and one year
later a second open-top premium small car, the MINI Roadster, was
manufactured for the first time in Oxford.
The current line-up of MINI models manufactured in Oxford also
offers premium driving fun to thrill a wide variety of target groups.
The current MINI generation is comprised of the MINI 3 door and the
MINI 5 door. In addition the Oxford MINI plant has been the exclusive
production site for the new MINI Clubman, with which the brand is also
conquering the premium compact segment. The latest addition to the
product range is also manufactured in Oxford. The new MINI Clubman is
not only produced with hallmark front-wheel drive, but also with ALL4
four wheel drive.