• Swindon & Wiltshire Motors
• Thursday March 14 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Production of new Mini Cooper begins in Swindon and Oxford

Production of the fifth generation Mini Cooper is underway in Swindon and Oxford.

The first of the new-look three-door hatchbacks rolled off the production line in Oxford on Monday (March 11) in front of guests including Charlie Cooper, grandson of the legendary John Cooper, whose heritage inspired the Cooper moniker.

BMW’s Swindon plant produces the body panels and sub-assemblies for the model, while the engine is built by BMW in Warwickshire. Final assembly takes place in Oxford.

Dr. Markus Grüneisl, head of plants Oxford and Swindon said: “We are delighted to welcome the new Mini Cooper to our lines in both Oxford and Swindon.

“The new Mini Cooper is an incredibly important car for our team and UK manufacturing. We are proud to produce this iconic car, loved all over the world.”

Since the launch of the first modern Mini in 2001, over 4.4 million Minis have been produced in Britain, including 150,000 Mini Electric models which were built between 2019 and 2023.

The Mini Oxford plant is currently preparing to build two new all-electric Mini models from 2026.

The BMW Group will then have invested a total of more than £3 billion in the Swindon, Warwickshire, and Oxford plants.

Stefanie Wurst, head of Mini, said: “This milestone underscores the commitment to our roots while propelling us into a dynamic future of driving.

“Plant Oxford is the heart of the MINI brand, and today, as we witness the birth of this new chapter, we renew our pledge to craftsmanship and the thrill of motoring.”

The fifth-generation Mini will be available in two model variants: the Mini Cooper C and performance-enhanced Mini Cooper S. Prices start at £22,300.