Mini factory in Oxford
Mini had originally indicated that it wanted to relocate almost all of the production of its electric models to China and only manufacture combustion engines in Oxford.
(Photo: dpa)
BMW is investing hundreds of millions of pounds in its mini factory in Great Britain and will produce two new electric models there in the future. The three-door Cooper and the compact SUV Aceman will roll off the production line in Oxford from 2026, as was heard from British government circles on Monday.
The deal also helps secure 4,000 jobs in Oxford and the Swindon plant. A third electric model, the Countryman, is produced in Leipzig.
The Munich-based group’s investment of 600 million pounds (700 million euros) is “another shining example that Britain is the best place to build the cars of the future,” said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. BMW also benefits from government subsidies in London worth an estimated 75 million pounds, as British media reported.
Mini had originally indicated that it wanted to relocate almost all of the production of its electric models to China and only manufacture combustion engines in Oxford. This was seen as a serious blow for the already troubled automotive industry in Great Britain.
With significant incentives, the British government has since managed to land several projects. In July, the Indian Tata Group, which also owns Jaguar Land Rover, announced the construction of a “Gigafactory” for batteries in southern England. London is reportedly supporting the investment with several hundred million pounds.
More: At BMW and Deutsche Telekom, the Metaverse comes from Jena