UK plant to build next-gen Mini 09 | 06 | 2011

BMW HAS confirmed a £500 million investment programme for its plant in Oxford, and the deal — announced in Downing Street today — essentially confirms the new Mini models based on a new-generation front-drive platform will be built in Britain.

Though Mini has yet to 'officially' confirm the next generation of Mini hatchbacks will be built at Oxford, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that, having invested £500m, Britain is the place it will be built.

BMW boss Norbert Reithofer has explained that up to 10 Mini variants will be built off the new UKL1 platform, which will also underpin a range of front-drive BMWs.

There is though an underlying reason for the vague concerns regarding where the next-gen of Mini will be built. And here it's important to distinguish between the new and the current platform.

Is the Mini Coupe a step too far?

We know for definite that three new models — coupe, roadster and city-Mini — will be based on the current platform and built at Oxford. But because the Mini’s front-drive platform will also be shared with a new BMW hatch, fears had surfaced that Mini models on the new platform might make more sense — understandably — to be built in Germany.

But in announcing the £500m investment for Oxford, BMW emphasised the bulk of the money will be allocated to a new body-in-white facility at Oxford to assemble models on the new platform, a strong indication that the new Mini hatch will be built at Oxford.

In addition, some of the UK investment will be allocated to the Swindon pressing plant and Hams Hall, where it will buy new component machining facilities.

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Craig James

Caption: Prime Minister David Cameron bids to steer the automotive manufacturing in the UK to new success at the announcement of BMW's £500m investment programme outside No10 today.