Oxford plant to expand?

[Hat]

from www.motoringfile.com

Quote:

The German car maker BMW is close to deciding on a major expansion of its Mini plant in Oxford to cope with booming demand for the iconic car.

Production this year is expected to exceed 180,000, boosted by the launch in July of a convertible version of the car. But output cannot grow much beyond that because the plant's paint shop is already working almost at full capacity.

BMW executives have ambitious plans for further variants of the Mini, ranging from a sports utility model to a five-door Mini traveller or estate. They believe there is no reason why the brand cannot be extended in the same way that the BMW marque itself has grown to encompass a wide variety of models.

Michael Ganal, the BMW board member for sales and marketing, said the group was now "pretty close" to a decision on the expansion of Oxford.

He said: "We believe the Mini family has to grow."

[Johnny225]

Booooo, too many MINIs!

[Paul]

MINI2 news:

> 20th May 2004:
> Plant Oxford Expansion on the Cards
With our own little footnote following a previous discussion with the MINI general manager in the UK.

[moorlockx]

>>>Booooo, too many MINIs!<<<.................Too right, Johnny!! At current production rates, that's the millionth MINI coming around 2007, if not sooner.

>>>sports utility model<<<<..........so much for the anti-SUV line of advertising. In all honesty, I'd rather see the company fold and go under before this ever comes about!

[coopwithascoop]

"We believe the Mini family has to grow."

The usual marketing bullshitttt!!!I don't want "variants" of MINI everywhere. Makes my blood boil

[BrantV]

Could this mean a possibility of more dealerships, or just larger allotments to existing ones? Either way, perhaps buyers will see less value in the markups some dealers are asking. They're still asking 5-8k over MSRP in southern California.

As for more variants. Bring em on. I'm quite confident there will be ample interest in the 3-door to keep it alive for decades, regardless of what other models they come up with. I'd actually like a smaller and/or aluminium MINI.

Aluminium 3-door, All-wheel drive, fuel cell hybrid, reduced in size by 10-20% on the outside (not so much on the inside)

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by moorlockx

>>>Booooo, too many MINIs!<<<.................Too right, Johnny!! At current production rates, that's the millionth MINI coming around 2007, if not sooner.

>>>sports utility model<<<<..........so much for the anti-SUV line of advertising. In all honesty, I'd rather see the company fold and go under before this ever comes about!

Great news - the more MINIs the better - as long as they don't lose their essential MINIness.

As for seeing the company close instead of the brand grow -
!

[Cold Side]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrantV

Aluminium 3-door, All-wheel drive, fuel cell hybrid, reduced in size by 10-20% on the outside (not so much on the inside)

Now a fuel cell hybrid that would be an interesting variant but an SUV? Oh god. I can picture that being almost as bad as the new beetle.............

[BrantV]

SUV?

No. Two electric motors (front/rear) or 4 electric motors in the hubs. I'm definitely not thinking SUV. Keep the ride hight as is, or lower with smaller wheels.

[burtie]

Im sorry but MINI should stay as it is, it would be a disatster if their make too many models. Keep it as it is!

If its not broke don’t fix it!

[Paul]

Wait a minute.

People sometimes knock the old Mini for not changing, yet they had official Pick-ups, Vans, Travelers (the mini-SUV of it's time?), Countryman, Clubman (and variants of that), Convertible etc. Why would the new MINI not try to follow the same lines?

[scooperman_uk]

its a master plan to take over the world with MINI is the style of the "body snatchers" just they are going to replace cars not people

[Hat]

better to expand oxford then take the car & jobs abroad anyway. BMW know better than most car manuacturers about how to market a car to keep it in the prestige end of the market, i wouldnt worry about things like minis flooding the market or being offered to fleets or any of the other nasty things other manufacturers do

[scooperman_uk]

i disagree the more MINIs on the road, the flashing and waving we will have to do. i think its a great thing.

[shiredweller]

I would like to see more dealers in the US. I'm sure there would be more MINIs around where I live [I think that would be good] if the nearest dealer wasn't 190 miles away.