According to a report in the business section of The Independent today, BMW are planning to produce some MINI models in Germany.
The news that parent company BMW were considering producing MINIs in Germany was reported by our friends over at BigBlogg in late September. Now The Independent has fleshed out the information, citing BMW Plant Regensburg as the most likely location for MINI production.
It is interesting that BMW appear to be full steam ahead with their plans for the MINI brand’s expansion, despite sales this year appearing no less depressed than the beleaguered car market as a whole has been experiencing. The MINI Coupe and MINI Roadster have already been confirmed as heading for production at Plant Oxford, spiritual and production home of the MINI marque. However the forthcoming MINI Countryman/Crossover being assembled in Austria combined with the news of potential MINI production in Germany, shows that MINI is once again growing into a truly international motoring brand.
This is not new ground for the small, quirky and almost unfathomably successful marque; which many believe epitomises the British motorcar. In the past versions of the classic Mini were produced as far and wide as Italy and Australia, as well as closer to home at Longbridge and Cowley in the UK.
The question remains how production would be split between international production sites. MINI are very keen to promote their UK “production triangle”, not only because it signifies their investment and support of the UK manufacturing industry, but also because it makes good business sense to have your key car components travel as short a distance as possible. Whether any future production in Germany will be of clones of the UK produced cars, or limited to only certain models within the brand, remains to be seen.
Tags: BigBlogg, bmw, bmw group plant oxford, BMW Group Plant Regensburg, BMW Plant Regensburg, German, German MINI Production, Germany, mini, mini production triangle, mini uk
