British Prime Minister David Cameron at last had something to smile about when he drove the two-millionth MINI from the company’s assembly line in Oxford.
“The two-millionth MINI to be made here in Oxford is a fantastic symbol of the UK’s strength in the global automotive industry and a great British manufacturing story,” Mr Cameron said.
At the same time, MINI owner BMW announced a further £500-million investment in the Oxford facility. Currently the plant manufactures four MINI derivatives, with a fifth, the MINI Roadster, due to commence next year.
MINI is the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in Britain (17 per cent of the total) and exports to more than 90 countries. Some 3,700 employees in Oxford work two shifts five days per week producing 900 MINIs per day.
