From Autoindustry.co.uk:
BMW will this later this month announce investment at its Oxford plant to boost output of its MINI range to over 200,000 units a year, executives told media in Spain yesterday.
Helmut Panke, BMW chief executive, said the planned investment would eventually raise capacity by up to 20% at Oxford, which is to remain the sole plant for producing the MINI.
[ BMW to invest in increasing MINI production ]
The Independent is reporting today that the factory’s production could be increased up to 300,000 a year with a new investment of approximately $280 million dollars.
<p>i don’t know if this is a good or bad thing. </p>
<p>Bye, bye high residual values, that’s all I can say. I think BMW should be careful on their “quest” to put a new MINI in every driveway. This tactic is what watered down and killed the exclusivity previously enjoyed by the BMW 3 series.</p>
<p>We’re all being suckerd.</p>
<p>Personally I didn’t buy my MINI for residual values. I got it because its a ball to drive. I could care less if there was one in every driveway. When I lived in the UK there was a Mini in just about every driveway and that didn’t stop the mini from being a fun drive. That’s what it’s all about.</p>
<p>I think the roads would be a lot safer with more MINIs around; less tall, wide vehicles that are impossible to see around is surely a good thing.</p>
<p>I agree with Larry on residuals, I bought my MINI to drive, not to resell. </p>
<p>Well, I will agree, I didn’t buy my vehicle to sell, but to drive. Although there is a part of me that wanted to be a little unique.</p>
<p>Besides, if everyone has one then would all of the Mini clubs hold up?</p>
<p>Well, I own 2 new MINIs and I also bought them because they are fun to drive. Also, the high residuals are the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>I don’t buy cars for residuals but it is nice to know that I can get almost 70% back after 3 years of use.</p>
<p>I am sick and tired of cars that are worth nothing after a year or two.</p>
<p>we’ll see if you care about resale value when you go to trdae up and get your next mini. </p>
<p>I intend to give mine to my kid when he/she is able to drive (whenever I have one).</p>
<p>Stockholders (and more importantly money) speaks louder than residual value. Unfortunatly. </p>
<p>If this is what BMW has to do to turn a profit, then I’m all for it….As long as quality doesn’t suffer for the sake of volume.</p>
<p>Plus, I’d hate to see the next generation Mini have corners cut to get BMW/Mini into the black sooner.</p>
<p>I have been watching this site for quite sometime as I am contemplating buying a Mini. That being said, I can’t fathom the whining about residual values. Did you buy the car to drive or as an investment? You all praise the car – and rightly so (I’ve driven both models), but it seems that some of you want production hamstrung now that you’ve gotten yours. Reminds me of people who move to the mountains because of the beauty and serenity and then try to pass ordinances to prevent others from enjoying it as well. The ‘IGM’ (I Got Mine) mentality at work.</p>
<p>Its not about resale..
Theres something unique about having a Mini..
Lets see how many people want a new Mini after it turns into a Honda.
Nowadays, many people want minis because its a cool and different car (besisdes all the other safety or performance reasons).
In my opinion if you produce so many that everyone has a Mini, then less people will want one. </p>
<p>2 Points to make
1- MINI is in so many more markets than the USA. The UK is the #1 market for the MINI and the USA is #2. That being said, they can focus on sending more cars to markets as they grow.<br />
2- The amount of money to make the change to the plant is huge. BMW/MINI will have to look at the numbers and see if it is really worth doing. </p>
<p>BMW wants to expand Mini globally and increase it sales volume in all countries (including the US).</p>
<p>By 2010 there will most likely be at least 3-4 different variations and all of those will be customized by the their owners to some degree. </p>
<p>While some of the uniqueness will be lost as production volume increase but it wont be enough to diminish the brand to the generic level of a Honda.</p>
<p>Original Mini’s have been around for decades throughout Europe and those are still cool in my book.</p>
<p>Higher volume does not always translate to less quality.</p>
<p>While there is no guarantee that the next-Mini will be a better car but since the success of the brand and BMW’s ability to make it profitable in the long run depends on it I’m willing to bet the next-Mini will be even a better car.</p>
<p>Again, the only negative I see is that it will be more expensive.</p>
<p>Unless all of the extra allocation of MINIs get dumped into the states, I don’t think we’ll see much of a hit in residual values. Not that I care that much, it’s really only for braging rights when someone says how nice the new Malibu is… :></p>
<p>I find myself remembering quite deliberately the fear once expressed on many a MINI forum that the car would be discontinued in 05/06.</p>
<p>This is a welcome sign of continued BMW faith in the MINI marquee.</p>
<p>With a Mini 3-door, 5-door, cabrio, and a couple/roadster…I don’t expect to see more any more identical mini’s on the road, just more of them in general.</p>
<p>BTW look at some of the cars with the highest resale values, many are produced in large scale and do not have the charm of the mini…i.e the acura MDX</p>
<p>While it will likely affect residuals, I get too much joy seeing other MINIs on the road to let it bother me much. The thought of even more happy MINI owners is down right comfy.</p>
<p>Besides the declining dollar is likely to help prop up the used market.</p>
<p>This is the end
beautiful friend…</p>
<p>The values are falling! The values are falling! Get out while you can! </p>
<p>I for one, will definitely be moving on before the next gen Mini hits the showrooms and the value of my 04 is sent crashing through the floor. Life is short and great cars abound. Let’s motor.</p>
<p>Ubiquity doesn’t equal low residuals. The Honda Civic was for several years the top selling car in Canada, yet its residuals are among the best as well.</p>
<p>I talked with someone I recently met who had been to school in Oxford. He told me there is a lot of people not happy at the MINI plant.</p>
<p>Gabe I think you know someone at the plant have you heard of any such stories about long hours and other unpleasant things?</p>
<p>Anybody from the plant, reading this, have any thing to say on that subject?</p>
<p>I sold my ’04 MCS for $700 above of what I originally paid for it brand new in late 2003. MINI resale value kicks ass! I put an internet ad for it and six days later I had a buyer for it.</p>
<p>Yes resale value, does matter.</p>
<p>Even with increased production, the total increase in allocation to the states will be such that we probably won’t see a drastic rise in yearly sales to the point where the MINI would be every other car. Even at 50-60k yearly US sales (an increase of 10-20k sales which may be a little high…), the car would be uncommon. This would also potentially allow further development of the MINI dealer network helping out our motoring friends who are just a bit too far from a dealer now. I drove a thousand miles from NH to Chicago and saw ONE other MINI. And that was major highways and some backroads. (Although there are a bunch here in Chicago proper).</p>
<p>Residuals will also stay high- look at BMW and Honda resales and their volumes are much higher than the MINI’s in the US. Personally, I’m never selling my 2004. It’ll bring smiles to my face forever- even as other MINIs come and go from my garage.</p>
<p>BMW will play it smart. They know they have something special.</p>