Good news for MINI Coupé fans and would be owners. According to Norbert Reithofer, BMW’s chief executive, the MINI Coupé and another as yet unconfirmed new MINI model are headed for production.
For many, the even better news is the official confirmation that the new MINI models will be built in the UK, at BMW Group Plant Oxford:
I am pleased to announce the MINI Coupé concept car and another new MINI model will both be built at Oxford.
In a report published in the Financial Times Mr Reithofer said that the development would entail new jobs and investment at the facility, which has been running close to capacity since the reintroduction of the MINI Convertible earlier this year.
The “other new MINI model”, which will be unveiled alongside the MINI Coupé Concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motorshow is widely expected to be a MINI Roadster, based on the same platform and design ideals as the MINI Coupé Concept.
This news comes as a tremendous boost for employees at BMW Group Plant Oxford, who along with much of the UK car industry have suffered tempestuous times of late. While many employees have been taken back onboard during the course of 2009, it was a decision to release 850 workers in February that grabbed most headlines for the plant in Cowley.
A report on the BBC website speculates the move could result in as many as 1,000 new employees at the Oxford MINI production plant, which would be a tremendous boost for the local economy.
BMW UK Corporate Communications Director Graham Biggs said during a radio interview with the BBC that the project was at an early stage, and was unable to confirm any specifics with regards the development of the Oxford plant and potential expansion of the workforce.
Tags: bmw group plant oxford, mini coupe, MINI Coupé Concept, MINI Roadster, MINI Roadster Concept, mini uk, Oxford, plant oxford
[...] Contact « MINI Coupé confirmed for UK production [...]
[...] Invaluable MINI website theSwitchback has more on this story here. [...]
[...] 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. [...]