OXFORD: The MINI plant here is celebrating the start of production of the MINI Cooper Convertible for the first time since 2015.
The model joins the Cooper 3-Door and Cooper 5-Door, making the Oxford site the home of the MINI Cooper family.
Announced last month, the fourth generation Cooper Convertible includes a completely new interior and exterior design, as well as a state-of-the-art digital experience.
Three UK BMW Group manufacturing sites contribute to the Cooper Convertible.
BMW Group Plant Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies while the latest four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire.
These parts come together at the MINI plant here where body shell production, paint and final assembly take place.
Following the relaunch of the MINI brand in 2001, the first MINI Convertible was unveiled in 2004 and has remained an icon of the MINI family ever since.
With 160,000 vehicles built here from 2004 to 2008, the first-generation MINI Convertible was known for its retro styling and iconic chrome roll-over arches behind the rear seats.
The second generation, unveiled in 2009 with 165,000 built at Oxford until 2015, kept the iconic drop-down hinged boot but gained the evolved styling of the Cooper from that era.
Production of the model was briefly moved to VDL Nedcar in the Netherlands for the third generation, making room for the Clubman here.
Over 150,000 Convertible models were produced at Nedcar until production stopped in 2023, before production returned here.
The Oxford plant celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2023, the same year it produced over 20% of all UK manufactured cars. As one of the oldest automotive plants in the world, the MINI plant here has been in continuous production since 1913.
