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MINI Electric hits production milestone at Oxford plant
More than 11,000 MINI Electrics have been built at the firm’s Oxford plant, since production began last year. The significant milestone comes just before the plant’s annual summer maintenance shutdown.
Premiered in July 2019, during the brand’s 60th anniversary year, MINI’s first all-electric model is fully integrated into the production process at Oxford, running down the same line as the combustion engine models.
Since its launch, more than 3,000 MINI Electric orders have been placed in the UK.
MINI Plant Oxford has built more than 11,000 MINI Electrics since production began, with more than 3,000 destined for UK roads / Picture: BMW Group
The MINI Electric is the second electrified MINI in the model line-up, joining the MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid. These two models have proved extremely popular in the UK and together account for 19 per cent of worldwide electrified MINI sales. A quarter of all UK MINI Countryman orders are for its plug-in hybrid version.
David George, director, MINI UK, said “We’re delighted the MINI Electric is such a success in the UK and that our customers love the car as much as we do. It’s fantastic to see the growing popularity of electrified vehicles – the UK already accounts for nearly a fifth of global MINI Electric and MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid sales and we know that demand is increasing.”
The high level of flexibility at Plant Oxford means MINI Electric production can be adjusted according to global demand. Next year, it is expected that a third of MINI 3-door hatch models built at Plant Oxford will be fully-electric models.
Production of the MINI Electric began at its Oxford plant in late 2019, during the carmaker’s 60th anniversary year / Picture: BMW Group
Peter Weber, managing director, MINI Plant Oxford, added: “Everyone at Plant Oxford is immensely proud that our hard work integrating MINI Electric into the production line is paying off, with the car proving so popular with customers in the UK and around the world. As the home of the brand, it gives us huge satisfaction to build the first fully-electric car in the MINI product line-up here in Oxford, for global export.”
The original Mini, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959, was born out of the Suez crisis oil shortage and the demand for affordable motoring.