A Timeline Of The Modern MINI

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Line up of five Mini cars in varying models and colours including a red convertible, a black coupé, a black and red hatchback, a green hatchback, and a silver crossover SUV, displayed indoors against a plain white background, representing used cars and new cars options.
Line up of five Mini cars in varying models and colours including a red convertible, a black coupé, a black and red hatchback, a green hatchback, and a silver crossover SUV, displayed indoors against a plain white background, representing used cars and new cars options.

MINI is an iconic brand synonymous with quality, style and comfort; the legendary badge has been celebrated around the world for over fifty years now.

But did you know, over the past two decades alone, MINI has built over 5 million cars in the UK?

The manufacturer's production plant in Oxford currently builds the MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI 5-Door Hatch, MINI Clubman and the MINI Electric, all on the same production line.

The Oxford and Swindon MINI production plants together employ over 4,500 highly-skilled employees, including 130 apprentices, who all keep production moving to build 1000 MINI a day - that's one every 67 seconds!

To celebrate their success, we're taking a look back at some of the important milestones since the year 2000, in a timeline of the 'Modern MINI':

2001

April 

MINI begins production at their plant in Oxford.

July

The First Generation of the modern MINI Hatch is launched in the UK.

Yellow Mini Cooper car with black roof and silver wheels displayed against a grey background. The front license plate reads 'MINI COOPER'. This image is suitable for advertising used cars and new cars.

2004

The BMW Group announces £40 million investment into their Swindon production plant.

The first MINI Convertible is revealed (produced at Plant Oxford, UK).

2006

Plant Hams Hall produces new engine family and supplies Oxford for MINI production, creating the UK MINI Production Triangle.

2007

MINI Plant Oxford pioneers innovative paint technology. Plant Oxford is the first BMW Group manufacturing site to use IPP (Integrated Paint Process). This highly innovative system brings energy savings and emissions reductions of well over 10 per cent in the painting of body shells.

As well as enhancing the efficiency of the entire paint process, IPP also supports BMW Group's environmental objectives by dispensing with a solvent-based primer-surfacer.

2008

The new MINI Clubman revealed for the first time (which is then built in Oxford).

Blue Mini Cooper hatchback parked on a gravel surface with registration plate GJ58 SZZ, featuring black side mirrors and roof, silver alloy wheels, and round headlights, representing a stylish option for used cars or new cars.

2009

The first MINI John Cooper Works GP is revealed.

MINI's first all-electric vehicle, the MINI E, begins trials and is backed by UK Government.

Also, BMW Group's major UK field trial with MINI E model to evaluate the technical and social aspects of living with an all-electric vehicle in a real-world environment. Over 250,000 miles were driven on UK roads in one year.

2010

The brand's first SUV the MINI Countryman is revealed (produced in Graz, Austria).

2011

The MINI Coupe is revealed.

Silver Mini Cooper convertible car with black racing stripes and black alloy wheels, parked on a leaf-strewn path with greenery and trees in the background, displaying UK registration plate YK61 LTZ, suitable for used cars and new cars listings.

2012

The MINI Roadster is revealed.

Red Mini Cooper S convertible driving on a wet road with a visible UK license plate YG12 TWE, featuring black racing stripes on the rear. The driver is a man with short blond hair. The car is surrounded by green trees and bushes, showcasing a sporty and compact used car, suitable for customers interested in both used cars and new cars.

2013

The MINI Paceman is revealed.

Brown Mini Cooper parked in a car lot with registration plate SA64 YMF, surrounded by various other vehicles including white, blue, and black cars; scene taken outdoors on a cloudy day with buildings and trees in the background, suitable for used cars and new cars market.

2014

The brand's first MINI 5-Door Hatch is revealed.

Red Mini Cooper car with registration plate YL15 LHU parked on a paved area in front of a car dealership lot, surrounded by other vehicles including a black BMW and a grey car, under a clear blue sky, showcasing options for used cars and new cars.

Also, one of the UK's largest roof-mounted solar farms is installed at MINI Plant Oxford. On the roof of the body shop, the solar farm has more than 11,500 panels, covering 20,000 square metres (five football pitches). It generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of 850 households (over 3 megawatts). This allows Plant Oxford to reduce its carbon footprint by approximately 1,500 tonnes of CO2 per year.

2019

MINI Plant Oxford builds its 10 millionth MINI and is awarded 'Best Told Story' from the official tourism agency for England, Visit England (won again in 2020). Plant Oxford opened its doors to public tours in 2008, and they have been a roaring success ever since.

Also, the two bookends of the brand are announced - the third MINI John Cooper Works GP (3,000 units globally) and the brand's first all-electric production car, the MINI Electric.

Black Mini Cooper with licence plate YG20 SKD parked on a paved lot next to a blue BMW. The scene shows a sunny day with partly cloudy skies, highlighting the exterior detail of these used cars, suitable for customers interested in both used cars and new cars.

2020

January

MINI Electric customer production begins at Plant Oxford. The MINI Electric is fully integrated into the production process at Plant Oxford, making it the first BMW Group Plant to have electric running down the same line as the combustion engine models, allowing flexibility in production according to global demand.

By the end of 2020, a total of 17,580 were sold and delivered to customers around the world, 3,385 of which in the UK.

MINI Plant Oxford car manufacturing facility showing a white new MINI car with license plate YH21 FWG and a red used MINI car with license plate Y304 DBL under a checkered archway inside the factory. The image highlights the production and quality control of new cars and used cars within the automotive plant.

October

MINI reveals future product plans and new strategy focusing on electromobility, crossovers and production of models in China from 2023.

2021

MINI confirms its last combustion engine model will be launched in 2025 and the brand will become electric only from the early 2030s.

Collection of various Mini cars displayed in two different outdoor locations with cobblestone and paved surfaces. The first group includes cars in grey, orange, black, and blue, set against a backdrop of historic brick buildings with large industrial windows. The second group includes blue, orange, beige, red, and blue convertible Mini cars parked in a sunlit open area with modern buildings and parked bicycles in the background. Number plates visible include 64 WLF, 63 LYP, 520 VNL, and MK07 OZL. This image highlights a variety of Mini models suitable for both used cars and new cars buyers.

If you'd like a piece of history in the making and to get behind the badge of one of the most iconic British brands of all time, you can shop New and Used MINI offers right here at Vertu Motors:

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Start your MINI adventure with us today - we'll be there for you every step of the way!

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