motor

altezza · 08-25-2004, 02:08 PM

500,000th MINI produced at BMW Group Plant Oxford

The 500,000th MINI has come off the production line at BMW Group Plant Oxford today, three years after the car first went on sale in July 2001.

More than 375,000 of the 500,000 MINIs have been exported representing over 75 per cent of the total produced since the launch of the car. The UK car export market is worth approximately £11 billion per annum* and MINI is the UK’s fifth largest car manufacturer.

The Rt. Hon. Andrew Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was at the plant to see the car roll off the line. "This is a great moment for the workforce and British manufacturing. The MINI plant is a success story that is benefiting both the local and national economy."

Initial forecasts by the company predicted that the plant would build 100,000 MINIs a year, but worldwide demand has brought the half-million milestone two years early. Over 176,000 MINIs were sold in 2003 in 70 different markets from Thailand to Trinidad. 2004 is set to be another record year with 111,142 vehicles sold in the first seven months of 2004; an increase of four per cent compared to the same period in 2003. The UK remains the number one market for MINI.

Dr Anton Heiss, managing director of BMW Group Plant Oxford, said: "We have reached this achievement through the commitment and flexibility of the 4,500 employees at the plant. With MINI’s continuing sales success, we are on schedule to produce more vehicles than the 174,000 MINIs built last year."

The 500,000th MINI is a dark silver MINI Cooper S bound for America – MINI’s second biggest market after the UK. MINI USA organised for the lucky customer to collect his MINI from the Oxford plant. Dan Cowdry from California said: "It’s a real treat to see the home of MINI in Oxford, England but I’m really looking forward to showing the car to my friends back home."

MINI is the smallest car on the road in the USA and, since its launch in March 2002, nearly 80,000 have been sold.

sameerrao · 08-25-2004, 02:15 PM

Wow! 500K in three years - pretty good. Though nearly as much F150s are sold per year

BADMIHAI · 08-25-2004, 02:19 PM

Though nearly as much F150s are sold per year

Not nearly as much as all the Beatles sold.

Come to think about it...they're getting close.

sameerrao · 08-25-2004, 02:23 PM

Beetles you mean right ... though the beatles also sold a lot ... of albums

Which is the best selling car of all time -Corolla or Beetle? Too lazy to google today

TransAm · 08-25-2004, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by sameerrao

Beetles you mean right ... though the beatles also sold a lot ... of albums

Which is the best selling car of all time -Corolla or Beetle? Too lazy to google today

Beetle me thinks.

Nice bit of pedantry too

SilviaEvo · 08-25-2004, 03:30 PM

wow 500,000!

Back in the 1960s, Americans flipped for the cute-as-a-bug Volkswagen Beetle. The lovable little "Bug," first made in Germany in 1937, became the most popular car in history. By 1979, it was no longer sold in the U.S. The New Beetle is set to roll into the U.S. in March. This model is bigger, fancier and faster. Will it catch up in sales with these best-selling cars of all time?

1. Volkswagen Beetle, 1937
21 million made

2. Toyota Corolla, 1963
20 million

3. Ford Model T, 1908
15.5 million

4. Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, 1974
15 million

5. Lada Riva, 1970
13.5 million

FordGTGuy · 08-25-2004, 03:41 PM

why would you even compare a bettle to a f-150 the bettle is out leagued hugly.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f...r=6&pfrm=WinXP

Ford Capri 2.8i · 08-25-2004, 04:01 PM

I didnt expect that the mini wasnt sold so many units, despite i heard quite a long time ago that the minis production was going better than the estimations......the mini sales could increase more if they want, once the only diesel version that exists it has 90bhp, and the diesel cars sales in the peninsula of Europe represent the 75% of the sales. In addtion there is no point comparing the new beetle against the mini, once the beetle is at least two years more on market;

possessed_beaver · 08-26-2004, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by sameerrao

Beetles you mean right ... though the beatles also sold a lot ... of albums

Which is the best selling car of all time -Corolla or Beetle? Too lazy to google today

the mighty corolla is, well atleast acording to the guiness book of records.

nice paint scheme for the mini also.

Nik^XeN · 08-26-2004, 01:09 PM

I thitn't know they made this much!

noliebro · 08-26-2004, 05:49 PM

that paint scheme is normal beaver, it is just the light shining on it.

sentra_dude · 08-26-2004, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by FordGTGuy

why would you even compare a bettle to a f-150 the bettle is out leagued hugly.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f...r=6&pfrm=WinXP

Really dude? A car designed in the 1930s is outclassed by one designed in nearly 70 years later...who would have thought? :roll:

In terms of automotive achievement the Beetle is much more significant.

FordGTGuy · 08-26-2004, 09:47 PM

Actually not really^^ the f-150 is more famous over the amount of time it has been a hero truck for everyone to buy and own one because of its low cost and strength and reliability. Just because beetle makes like the first production car w/o competition and yes it did sell the most because of its first of its kind and no competition but did it last to become the most famous of its kind in Europe for years upon years? No; but did the F-150 yes.

sentra_dude · 08-26-2004, 11:11 PM

^^^whatever dude...its clear you are a big fan of Ford and will just argue this to death, so I don't care.

Back on topic, good job to the BMW boys for creating a big hit!

FordGTGuy · 08-26-2004, 11:52 PM

no I'm not hating on it I'm just saying its more famous. BTW Ford is a famous company but I do like other companies. But you don't know I hate the new Minis and Beetles to hell.