Mini Coupe will be built in Blighty
The British motor industry received a welcome boost yesterday when BMW's chief executive, Norbert Reithofer, confirmed that two new Mini model lines will be built at the firm's Cowley plant.
This means that the likely production version of the Mini Coupe Concept, due to be shown at the Frankfurt show later this month, will be built at the Oxfordshire plant. The second model line to join the new coupe is expected to be a 'Speedster' two-seat convertible, which should also be revealed in concept form at Frankfurt.
Next year's Mini SUV will not be built at Cowley, however - that gig has gone to Austrian contract manufacturer Magna Steyr.
The announcement is good news for the Cowley Mini plant, which was forced to dismiss 850 temporary workers back in February.
Now, though, resurgent demand for the Mini range means that the plant is running at close to its 200,000 capacity. Two new models could create enough extra volume to require a second assembly line and that would mean a significant - possibly four-figure - addition to the 3500-strong workforce.
So, whatever you think of Mini's controversial new coupe, at least it's keeping the British motor industry alive (though admittedly on a life-support system).
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