PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
Raise the roof! First MINI Cooper Convertible rolls off the MINI Plant Oxford production line.
Mon Nov 18 09:00:00 CET 2024 Press Release
• MINI Cooper Convertible production returns to MINI Plant Oxford. • Built alongside MINI Cooper 3-Door and 5-Door, making MINI Plant Oxford the home of MINI Cooper. • Icon of the MINI family since its launch in 2004, with 100,000 sold in the UK to date.
Press Contact.
Helen Wilson
BMW Group
Tel: +44-1252-92-1928
send an e-mail
Author.
Samuel Buckingham
BMW Group
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Today MINI Plant Oxford celebrates the start of production of the
MINI Cooper Convertible for the first time since 2015. The model joins
the MINI Cooper 3-Door and MINI Cooper 5-Door, making MINI Plant
Oxford the home of the MINI Cooper family.
Announced last month, the fourth generation MINI Cooper
Convertible includes a revised exterior design, sustainable interior
materials, and innovative in-car technology.
“We are thrilled about the start of production of the MINI
Convertible, which is now being produced again at the Oxford plant,
the home of MINI. Unique in its class, the MINI Convertible offers
unparalleled, brand-typical driving fun, combined with boundless
freedom and great emotions: The iconic design combined with modern
technology and connectivity makes this vehicle an unmatched open-air
experience for our customers," says Stefan Richmann, Head of MINI.
A celebration of British production, all three UK BMW Group
manufacturing sites contribute to the MINI Cooper Convertible. BMW
Group Plant Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies
while the latest four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group
Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire. Finally, these parts come
together at MINI Plant Oxford where body shell production, paint and
final assembly take place.
Commenting on the start of production, Markus Grüneisl, Head of
Plants Oxford and Swindon said “We are delighted with the launch of
the new MINI Cooper Convertible at our Plants in Oxford and Swindon.
It’s an amazing achievement for our team to launch three new models at
our Oxford Plant this year, and I am proud of our exceptional
workforce. We’re delighted to welcome the MINI Cooper Convertible back
home to Oxford, the home of MINI”.
Following the relaunch of the MINI brand in 2001, the first MINI
Convertible was unveiled in 2004 and has remained an icon of the MINI
family ever since with more than 100,000 sold in the UK to date.
With 160,000 built at MINI Plant Oxford from 2004 to 2008, the
first-generation MINI Convertible was known for its retro styling and
iconic chrome roll-over arches behind the rear seats. The second
generation, unveiled in 2009 with 165,000 built at MINI Plant Oxford
until 2015, kept the iconic drop-down hinged boot but gained the
evolved styling of the Cooper from that era.
Production of the model was briefly moved to VDL Nedcar for the
third generation, making room for the MINI Clubman at MINI Plant
Oxford. Over 150,000 Convertible models were produced at Nedcar until
production stopped in 2023, before production returned to MINI Plant Oxford.
MINI Plant Oxford celebrated its 110th anniversary in
2023, the same year the Plant produced over 20% of all UK manufactured
cars. As one of the oldest automotive plants in the world, MINI Plant
Oxford has been in continuous production since 1913 and is a leader of
technology and sustainability in automotive production.
The new MINI Cooper Convertible is offered with a choice of two
petrol engines, offering 163hp or 204hp respectively, and is priced
from £26,200 RRP.
More information on the new MINI Cooper Convertible can be found
here; mini.co.uk.
Ends
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW
Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of
automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and
mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30
production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.
In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles
and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in
the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to €
155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 154,950 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the
future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and
efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from
the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all
products.
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MINI Press Office Contacts:
Sam Buckingham
MINI Press Officer
Tel:
07815 362262
Email: Samuel.Buckingham@mini.co.uk
Helen Wilson
MINI Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815
372480
Email: Helen.Wilson@mini.co.uk
Christina Burnham-Hepe
General Manager,
Communications
Tel: 07815 371206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk
Media website:
www.press.bmwgroup.co.uk
www.mini.co.uk
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