Things you learn on this Forum.
I did not know the the PC and CM are made in Austria.
BMW's version of the MINI is an unusual vehicle, and it's built in unusual places. Currently, many MINIs are built in the Oxford, England plant that's most closely tied to the brand's heritage. But the Countryman and Paceman are made under contract by Magna Steyr in in Graz, Austria. The latter arrangement will end in 2016, moving some production to the brand's Oxford plant and some to a new partnership with VDL NedCar in the Netherlands.
Bringing some of the Paceman and Countryman production to Oxford will mark renewed output for the world's third-oldest car plant. With over 100 years of cars rolling through its doors, the Oxford plant was once known as the British Motor Corporation's Cowley plant. It was previously the production site of Morris Motors, Austin, Austin Healey, MG, Riley, Vanden Plas, Wolseley, Triumph, and even Honda, as well as the original Mini brand.
A statement released by Magna revealed the decision to move MINI production away, but followed it up with news that other BMW models will be built at the site. Which models Magna will build for BMW beyond 2016 isn't yet clear, though it's expected to cover up to 100,000 vehicles over a six to seven-year period. In the past, BMW has contracted Magna to build the X3 in addition to the MINI Paceman and Countryman.
Production of the Paceman and Countryman will be divided between the Oxford plant and the VDL Nedcar plant in the Netherlands, reports the Kleine Zeitung, via Automotive News (sub. req.). The move shouldn't make too much difference for MINI buyers, though there will be the usual matters of quality control, ramp-up and supply to deal with when starting a new production line or bringing in a new factory. There will be some overlap, however, with production at the NedCar plant set to start later this year.
Starting this summer, the Mk3 MINI range will start production at the VDL Nedcar facility in the Netherlands, the British company becoming the only automotive manufacturer in the world that has series production vehicles built through a contract in the European country.
Today, during a visit by Harald Kruger, BMW AG Board Member for Production and Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW AG Board Member for Purchasing and Supplier Network at the factory located in Born, the announcement was made.
“Contract production is a vital flexibility tool for us, and our experience gathered over the past ten years has been nothing but positive. Splitting production of the new MINI Hatch between Oxford and Born will give our global production network additional leeway,” stated Dr. Klaus Draeger during the plant visit in Born.
Work will effectively start this summer, involving 1,500 employees and, by the end of the year, the total number of cars made here is expected to reach well into the 5-digit range.
