BMW Group Plant Swindon has embarked upon a £40 million investment n new production facilities.

A major supplier to the new MINI Convertible which goes on sale this week, the plant’s investment programme will take place over the next three years. Supplying all the main pressings for the car, Plant Swindon beat internal and external competition to be the new supplier as well as continuing to supply parts for the hatchback model.

Robert Bolam, managing director of the plant, said, “This is great news for the plant and the workforce. Plant Swindon is now an integral part of the BMW Group production
facilities and this means the long-term future of the plant is secure. We have a major investment programme in place for the next three years to ensure MINI benefits from the latest pressings technology.”

Approval has been given for the first phase of the investment programme in new tooling and automation at the plant as it prepares to become the main supplier of pressings and sub assemblies for the MINI.

Bolam continued, “We would not have been in a position to attract this level of investment without the tremendous efforts of all our employees. They have demonstrated a willingness to learn, adapt to new technology and shown great flexibility.”

Plant Swindon currently supplies parts for the MINI One, Cooper and Cooper S, and with the addition of all press parts for the Convertible, MINI is now Plant Swindon’s biggest customer. In 2003, 176,000 MINIs were sold worldwide and sales in the first half of this year show MINI is on target to beat that figure in 2004. Plant Swindon will continue to supply third party customers and welcomes new business.