Important new Mini launched by BMW following £750m investment

ONE of the most important new cars for the West Midlands automotive industry has been unveiled by the Prime Minister.

David Cameron was guest at the BMW plant in Cowley for the launched of the new Mini, which has been heralded by a £750m investment in production facilities.

The new investment safeguards the jobs of 5,500 workers employed in the manufacture of the car, as well as those supplying the vehicle programme.

The car itself features all-new vehicle architecture, an evolutionary design and a range of new fuel-efficient engines – which will be manufactured at BMW’s Hams Hall engine plant.

The significance of the vehicle is illustrated by the fact BMW has invested £750m across its three UK manufacturing facilities – Cowley, Hams Hall and Swindon – to ensure production of the new car can meet demand.

Facilities include a new 1,000-robot body shop at Plant Oxford (Cowley), the debut of new technologies at the steel body pressings operation in Swindon, and new machining and assembly facilities to produce a new generation of three and four-cylinder engines at the Hams Hall site.

The Prime Minister said: “I was lucky enough to get an early preview of the new Mini – a classic British icon – during a visit to the factory in Oxford last month. This £750m investment is great news for both the local and wider economy, along with the 5,500 workers whose jobs are safeguarded by this launch.

“Car manufacturing is a vital engine for growth. Production is back up to pre-recession levels and a car rolls off the line every 20 seconds in the UK. But we’re not complacent. Our industrial strategy is a key part of the Government’s economic plan and we’re helping to drive the car industry further and faster with over £4bn of investment.”

Harald Krueger, BMW Group’s board member for production, said: “In our Oxford plant’s centenary year, we are continuing the Mini brand success story and today starting production of the third model generation.

“Our total investment of £750m in our British production locations of Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall between 2012 and 2015 underscores the importance of the Mini production triangle within our global production network. The UK is the heart of Mini production – thanks to the experience, competence and strong commitment of all our employees.”

Besides a new state-of-the-art body shop, the Oxford plant also benefits from upgrades to its paint shop, its final assembly area and from a series of initiatives reducing the operation’s carbon footprint and improving its waste management processes.  

The introduction of the new Mini has also seen a significant investment in the most extensive workforce training programme undertaken at the plant.

BMW said it had opted to tamper with the design of the iconic car. However, the vehicle is new from the ground up.

Launched next spring, the car offers an enhanced standard specification, an extensive range of options to allow customers to adapt the car to their individual style, higher comfort levels, comprehensive safety technology including pedestrian protection and more innovative networking technology.

It is longer and wider than its predecessor; the new model also provides more interior space for both the driver and passengers. BMW said extensively revised suspension technology, reduced weight and increased rigidity had intensified the typical Mini handling.  

Commenting on the new model, Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW Group’s board member for Mini, BMW Motorrad, Rolls-Royce, Aftersales BMW Group said: “Mini is an inspiration for trend-setters and creative spirits the world over. And with our latest generation of Mini Hatch, we want to excite once again. To ensure the new generation of Mini Hatch is as successful as its predecessors, we have made just subtle modifications to its design. But beneath the outer skin is a brand-new car with state-of-the-art technologies seen for the first time at a small car.”