BMW invests £600m in UK for production of new electric Mini

BMW Group will invest more than £600 million in Mini factories in Oxford and Swindon to prepare for all-electric production from 2030.

The Oxford plant is gearing-up to build two new all-electric Mini models from 2026, the 3-door Mini Cooper and the compact crossover Mini Aceman.

A third electric model, the Countryman, will be made in Germany.

By 2030 production will be exclusively electric and the BMW Group will have spent more than £3 billion on its Swindon, Hams Hall and Oxford plants since 2000.

“With this new investment we will develop the Oxford plant for production of the new generation of electric Minis and set the path for purely electric car manufacturing in the future,” said Milan Nedeljković, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for production.

The investment has been supported by the UK Government and will help to secure jobs at the Oxford manufacturing plant and at the body-pressing facility in Swindon.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “BMW Group’s investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build cars of the future. By backing our car manufacturing industry, we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country.”

Business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch added: “This decision is a big vote of confidence in the UK economy and the work of this Government to ensure the continued strength of our world-leading automotive sector.

“We are proud to be able to support BMW Group’s investment, which will secure high-quality jobs, strengthen our supply chains, and boost Britain’s economic growth”.
The Oxford plant celebrated its 110th anniversary this year and has been successfully producing the current Mini Electric since 2019, where it is fully integrated into the production line with the conventional (ICE) models.

Stefanie Wurst, head of the Mini brand, said, “Mini has always been aware of its history – Oxford is and remains the heart of the brand.

“I am delighted that the two new, fully electric Mini models – the Mini Cooper and Mini Aceman – are also being produced in Oxford, thereby confirming our path to a fully electric future.

“The continuing high demand for our locally emission-free vehicles shows the openness of the global Mini community to electromobility, which we will be able to serve optimally in the future, also thanks to Oxford.”

The Mini plant Oxford currently produces the Mini 3-door, the Mini 5-door as well as the Mini Clubman and the Mini Electric.

From 2024, the plant will start producing the next generation Mini 3-door and Mini 5-door with combustion engines, as well as the new Mini Convertible, before they are joined by the new all-electric vehicles in 2026 – the Mini Cooper 3-door and the Mini Aceman.

The factory will reach a production capacity of around 200,000 cars per year in the medium term, with ICE and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) initially being built on the same production line. From 2030, the Oxford Plant will produce all-electric Mini models exclusively.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of UK trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “BMW’s landmark announcement is yet another vote of confidence in UK automotive manufacturing. Not only does it secure the long-term future of the home of one of the world’s most iconic brands, it also demonstrates once again our capabilities in electric vehicle production.

“British automotive manufacturing has clear advantages – a skilled, highly productive workforce, cutting edge plants, a diverse vibrant supply chain and world-class R&D – all of which we must continue to promote in the face of fierce global competition. Investments such as this improve productivity and help deliver jobs, growth and economic benefits for the country.”

Alfonso Martinez, UK managing director of ALD Automotive LeasePlan, also welcomed BMW's announcement. "This move indicates a significant step forward for the UK's automotive industry, and it holds great potential for our economy, drivers, and the environment," he said.

"It's also a pivotal move towards the UK's net zero aspirations and positioning the country as a global player in the development and production of sustainable mobility. 

"We hope this shift in production gives much-needed reassurance to the industry which has been caught up in supply chain challenges for the past two years - and gives confidence to UK drivers who are increasingly interested in electric vehicles.

"Having a renowned brand like Mini producing electric cars in the UK should not only boost consumer confidence in electric mobility but put the UK firmly on the map as a world leader in EV technology.”

Mini Plant Oxford has been at the heart of its community for 110 years and employs more than 3,400 people, who together build up to 1,000 Minis a day - one every 67 seconds.

It is the third biggest vehicle producer in the UK and by the end of this year, the plant will have produced more than 13 million cars bearing the badges of 14 different brands.