MINI Coupé to be made in Oxford
Earlier this week, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG, visited the company's UK operations and used the occasion to announce that the two MINI concepts due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month will go into production at the MINI Plant Oxford, securing hundreds of British jobs.
Reithofer confirmed that the first of the new models will be the already revealed two-door, two-seat MINI Coupé, though we'll have to wait until September 15 to find out for definite what the second model is.
While it's known that MINI is working on a crossover vehicle - and it was widely thought to debut at the Frankfurt Show - word is that MINI will delay that car's introduction until 2010. Instead, the second concept car is expected to be a MINI Roadster, based on the two-seat layout of the Coupé.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "The production of the two new MINI models is very good news for Oxford, and for the UK car industry. It is a demonstration of BMW's long term commitment to the UK as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year."
Dr. Juergen Hedrich, Managing Director of MINI Plant Oxford, said: "The fact that Plant Oxford will be building these exciting new models shows the high level of flexibility of the plant and its associates. The MINI family has a bright future."
MINI Coupé to be made in Oxford pictures
