A Timeline Of The Modern MINI
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.
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).
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.
2012
The MINI Roadster is revealed.
2013
The MINI Paceman is revealed.
2014
The brand’s first MINI 5-Door Hatch is revealed.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Start your MINI adventure with us today – we’ll be there for you every step of the way!