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All-new MINI Cooper goes into production in the UK

The first fifth generation MINI Cooper has been manufactured at Plant Oxford, the home of MINI.

The first three-door model was driven off the production line by Charlie Cooper, grandson of the legendary John Cooper, whose heritage inspired the Cooper moniker.

The new MINI Cooper is the latest generation to be built in the UK, with all three BMW Group UK manufacturing sites contributing to production:

BMW Group Plant Swindon produces body pressings and sub-assemblies, while the latest highly-efficient three and four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire.

Finally, these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford where body shell production, paint and final assembly take place.

Since the launch of the first modern MINI in 2001, more than 4.4 million MINIs have been produced in the UK – including 150,000 MINI Electric models (built between 2019 and 2023).

The new MINI Cooper is the third member of the new MINI family, joining the MINI Cooper Electric and the new MINI Countryman. Available in two model variants: the MINI Cooper C and performance-enhanced MINI Cooper S, the latest three-door merges traditional brand values with innovative technology.

“This milestone underscores the commitment to our roots while propelling us into a dynamic future of driving,” said Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.

“Plant Oxford is the heart of the MINI brand, and today, as we witness the birth of this new chapter, we renew our pledge to craftsmanship and the thrill of motoring.”

Dr. Markus Grüneisl, Head of Plants Oxford and Swindon added, “We are delighted to welcome the new MINI Cooper to our lines in both Oxford and Swindon.

“The new MINI Cooper is an incredibly important car for our team and UK manufacturing. We are proud to produce this iconic car, loved all over the world.”

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Extreme weather testing for all-new MINI Aceman

Home / Auto News / Extreme weather testing for all-new MINI Aceman

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

The upcoming MINI Aceman electric crossover has been undergoing final testing in the desert in strong sunlight and temperatures of up to 50 Degrees C.

The Aceman, which has already successfully completed tests at the Arctic Circle, combines “the features of the two most successful MINI models, the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman, to create a new vehicle concept”.

In addition to driving dynamics and comfort, the test team is focusing on the demanding aspects of an electric vehicle, such as the air conditioning, charging and cooling of the battery in extreme conditions.

The MINI Aceman will bridge the gap between the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman and is expected to be unveiled at the Auto China show on 24 April.

Only available as an EV, it will have a modest battery size of 54.2kWh and power will come from a single electric motor at the front axle. Range is expected to be up to 248 miles.

Tags Crossover electric vehicle EV mini MiNI Aceman Mini Cooper MINI Countryman

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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BMW to build new electric MINI in Britain

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BMW Group has announced a new investment of more than £600 million in the MINI factories at Oxford and Swindon.

The Oxford plant is gearing-up to build two new all-electric MINI models from 2026, the 3-door MINI Cooper and the compact crossover MINI Aceman.

This development has been supported by the UK Government and will help to secure jobs at the Oxford manufacturing plant and at the body-pressing facility in Swindon.

“With this new investment we will develop the Oxford plant for production of the new generation of electric MINIs and set the path for purely electric car manufacturing in the future,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for production.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “BMW Group’s investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build cars of the future. By backing our car manufacturing industry, we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country.”

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said, “This decision is a big vote of confidence in the UK economy and the work of this Government to ensure the continued strength of our world-leading automotive sector. We are proud to be able to support BMW Group’s investment, which will secure high-quality jobs, strengthen our supply chains, and boost Britain’s economic growth”.

The MINI Plant Oxford currently produces the MINI 3-door, the MINI 5-door as well as the MINI Clubman and the MINI Electric.

From 2024 the plant will start producing the next generation MINI 3-door and MINI 5-door with combustion engines, as well as the new MINI Convertible, before they are joined by the new all-electric vehicles in 2026 – the MINI Cooper 3-door and the MINI Aceman.

The factory will reach a production capacity of around 200,000 cars per year in the medium term, with ICE and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) initially being built on the same production line. From 2030, the Oxford Plant will produce all-electric MINI models exclusively.

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British-built Nissan Qashqai was UK’s bestselling car in 2022

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The Nissan Qashqai was the UK’s most popular new car of 2022, and the first British-built model to top the annual sales charts for 24 years.

Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm that the home-grown Qashqai – which was designed in Paddington, engineered in Cranfield and is built in Sunderland – was the nation’s best-selling car of the last 12 months.

A total of 42,704 new Qashqais were driven off dealership forecourts across the UK in 2022, reported the SMMT.

To celebrate the achievement, an exclusive gold-wrapped Qashqai was created in honour of the 7,000 Nissan employees from around the UK that have contributed to its success.

Nissan Qashqai – 42,704
Vauxhall Corsa – 35,910
Tesla Model Y – 35,551
Ford Puma – 35,088
Mini – 32, 387
Kia Sportage – 29,655
Hyundai Tucson – 27,839
Volkswagen Golf – 26,588
Ford Kuga – 26,549
Ford Fiesta – 25,070

Overall, 1.61 million new cars were registered in the UK in 2022 – the lowest level since 1992.

Although demand for new vehicles remained high, manufacturers struggled to get hold of parts. There were particularly serious problems obtaining semiconductors, which are used in a vast array of electronic systems, from infotainment systems to engine management.

Meanwhile, demand for electric vehicles continued to grow and they accounted for almost a fifth of new car sales.

Registrations rose from 190,700 to 267,000 – with the EV market share climbing from 11.6% to 16.6%.

The Tesla Model Y was the biggest-selling electric vehicle by far, nothing up 35,551 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model 3 (19,071) and Kia Niro (11,197).

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20 years of MINI production at Swindon and Oxford

The one millionth MINI has been delivered in the UK, just over 20 years since the start of modern MINI production in 2001.

In all, MINI has sold more than 5.1 million cars globally in the past two decades, and the UK is the brand’s largest market.

The 3-Door Hatch, 5-Door Hatch, Clubman and Electric MINI models have all been built on the same production line at Plant Oxford.

What’s more, MINI Plants Oxford and Swindon employ 4,500 highly-skilled employees, including 130 apprentices, who all keep production moving to build 1,000 MINIs a day – one every 67 seconds.

“To have sold over one million MINIs in just 20 years is a remarkable milestone; we are all extremely proud,” said David George, Director of MINI UK.

“This achievement is testament to the fantastic cars we’ve built and launched during that time, our customers’ continued love for MINI, and the strength and unwavering dedication of our retail network.

“As we see the increasing demand for our MINI Electric and MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid models, which account for nearly a fifth of global electrified sales, we’re excited to see what the next 20 years hold, as we transition into our fully electric future.”

MINI will launch its last model with an internal combustion engine in 2025 and, by 2027, the share of all-electric vehicles in global MINI sales will be at least 50%. In the early 2030s, MINI will be the first BMW Group brand to go fully electric.

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