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2004 is set to be another record year with 111,142 vehicles sold in the first seven months of 2004
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MINIThe 500,000th MINI has come off the production line at BMW Group Plant Oxford today, three years after the car first went on sale in July 2001.
The 500,000th MINI is a dark silver MINI Cooper S bound for America - MINI’s second biggest market after the UK. MINI USA organised for the lucky customer to collect his MINI from the Oxford plant. Dan Cowdry from California said, "It’s a real treat to see the home of MINI in Oxford, England but I’m really looking forward to showing the car to my friends back home." MINI is the smallest car on the road in the USA and, since its launch in March 2002, nearly 80,000 have been sold.
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More than 375,000 of the 500,000 MINIs have
been exported representing over 75 per cent of the total produced since the
launch of the car. The UK car export market is worth approximately £11
billion per annum* and MINI is the UK’s fifth largest car manufacturer.
The Rt. Hon. Andrew Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was
at the plant to see the car roll off the line. "This is a great moment for
the workforce and British manufacturing. The MINI plant is a success story
that is benefiting both the local and national economy." Initial forecasts
by the company predicted that the plant would build 100,000 MINIs a year,
but worldwide demand has brought the half-million milestone two years early.
Over 176,000 MINIs were sold in 2003 in 70 different markets from Thailand
to Trinidad. 2004 is set to be another record year with 111,142 vehicles
sold in the first seven months of 2004; an increase of four per cent compared
to the same period in 2003. The UK remains the number one market for MINI.
Dr Anton Heiss, managing director of BMW Group Plant Oxford, said, "We have
reached this achievement through the commitment and flexibility of the 4,500
employees at the plant. With MINI’s continuing sales success, we are
on schedule to produce more vehicles than the 174,000 MINIs built last year."
