As Mini continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the brand has achieved a new feat as the ten millionth Mini produced globally since 1959 rolled off the assembly line.
The landmark car, a Mini 60 Years Anniversary Edition, was built last July at the Mini Plant Oxford.
Launched in 1959 and designed by Alec Issigonis, the classic Mini revolutionized the automotive world and was produced at Oxford until 1968, before moving to Longbridge, near Birmingham, where it continued to be built until October 2000. Between 1959 and 2000 more than 5.3 classic Minis were built.
Since the brand’s rebirth in 2001 under BMW ownership, sales around the world have gone from strength to strength. Last year nearly 400,000 Minis were sold in 110 countries across the globe.
Three UK plants have a part to play in Minis production today: Hams Hall near Birmingham makes engines, Swindon produces the body pressings and sub- assemblies for Mini, and this all comes together at the Oxford manufacturing plant with body shell production, paint and final assembly.
Daily output at Oxford has grown from around 300 cars a day in 2001 to around 1,000 today. The 4,500 strong workforce at Oxford produce one new Mini every 67 seconds.
Just as Alec Issigonis’ first car did in 1959, Mini has continued to push the boundaries, whilst keeping creative use of space, driving fun, style and individualization at its core.
Models built at Oxford today include the three and five door Mini Hatch and Mini Clubman. Around 80 percent of Minis built in Oxford are exported. The Convertible and Countryman models are built in The Netherlands.
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