Mini Clubman
While BMW trumpeted the news that its gorgeous CS concept will go into production, the announcement that the Mini Clubman will not be built in Britain was met with a more muted response.
The Mini has been a raging success for BMW, but this will be the first time it has been built outside Britain.
Last April the Munich marque trumpeted the millionth Mini rolling off the production line in Oxford. In March this year it beat its sales record with 7,800 of them finding new homes.
The workforce at the Oxford plant has doubled to 4,700 since it opened in 2001, and it will be able to build 260,000 Minis per year.
The outsourcing of the Mini has come because the group feels its profits are increasing, “at a disproportionately low rate.” It made £2.8bn before tax last year.
The Clubman is the first new model to be added to BMW’s Mini line-up. Slightly larger than the standard Mini it features outward-swinging rear doors and an extra, reverse-opening ‘suicide’ door on the drivers’ side.
It’s sure to be every bit as much of a hit as the current Mini – unless buyers feel a Mini built anywhere but Britain just isn’t a real Mini.
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