The first MINI five-door Hatch has rolled off the production line today at its plant in Oxford.
The new five-door is a first for MINI production, marking another phase in the roll-out of a £750 million investment programme across BMW Group UK’s production facilities.
This is second member of the MINI family to be built on a new platform, increasing the flexibility of the body manufacturing process, allowing more models with greater variation to be produced.
Business Secretary, Vince Cable said, “The launch of the all-new five-door MINI is a further boost for the UK’s manufacturing sector, and will help to secure jobs in Oxford and Swindon as part of BMW’s £750 million investment programme in the UK. BMW’s continued commitment and investment in the UK underlines the continuing success story that is UK automotive manufacturing.
“Through the UK government’s industrial strategy we are backing the auto sector as it goes from strength to strength. We are providing the right environment to give businesses the confidence to invest and create high skilled jobs.”
Preparations for the new generation of MINI have seen a new bodyshop built at its plant in Oxford and significant investment in facilities and technologies at its Swindon facilities. Plant Oxford’s assembly employees also went through a programme of training to support the launch of the new model generation.
