MINI's major milestone
1.5 million new-generation MINIs have been built at the BMW Group plant in Oxford, UKBMW offshoot MINI passed a big milestone last week when production at its plant in Oxford UK topped 1.5 million vehicles.
The new-generation model was launched in 2001 and the production milestone was reached a few weeks after the 50th birthday of the original Alex Issigonis-designed Mini in 1961.
The 1.5 millionth new-generation MINI was a red Clubman Chili that will go to a British customer.
The milestone MINI was welcomed off the line by Business, Innovation and Skills Minister Ian Lucas and BMW Group board member, Ian Robertson (pictured).
Lucas said: "The Mini has been a symbol of British design and engineering for 50 years, and I am delighted to hear that it continues to succeed today. Part of the longevity of the Mini has come from the company's ability to innovate -- the redesign that was launched in 2001, the focus on reducing CO2, and the electric MINIs that over the next year we will be seeing on the streets."
According to the maker, in the 41 years between 1959 and 2000, 5.3 million classic Minis were built, so the total when combined with new MINI volume is 6.8 million cars.
Introduced to Australia in March 2002, in Cooper and Cooper S form, the BMW designed retro hatch was followed by the cabriolet version in 2005 and the four-door Clubman in 2008. The diesel-engined MINI Cooper D was introduced this year.
So far, nearly 14,000 new-generation MINI models have been sold in Australia.
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