Confirming what we’ve reported for well over a year, a MINI UK representative told the Oxford Mail that the new MINI SAV (BMW speak for SUV) will not be built at the Oxford plant in England. Here’s an excerpt:
>The move marks a major shift in policy by the German company, although factory spokesman Rebecca Baxter denied there were any moves to shift the main areas of Mini production elsewhere.
>Ms Baxter said: “The SAV is not going to be built in Plant Oxford but it will remain the lead plant for Mini production.
>”With the SAV we are looking at co-operating with an external partner but we don’t know who that is going to be – it is an ongoing investigation for us.”
>While Ms Baxter also declined to be drawn on where the new model might be built, she claimed it spelled “good news” for the Cowley works which employs 4,700 workers.
>She added: “It means we will have the flexibility for further growth with the three main models being produced here. This is not about a lack of commitment to Oxford.”
We believe (as we’ve reported for awhile now) that the new model will be built in cooperation by Magna Steyr most likely in Austria. You can read the entire article below:
[ Cowley Won’t Get MINI SAV ] Oxford Mail
I thought it was likely to be built at the BMW Spartanburg plant?
Time to start hanging out at the dragon more often since it seems BMW tests out of Spartanburg up there. I was up there in March of 06 when I snapped this shot. <a href="http://myr53.com/attach/z4c.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://myr53.com/attach/z4c.jpg</a>
Now if it was just built outside of the MINI brand….
Very interesting. It sounds as this might be a while coming to fruition…let the rumors roll!!!
It had to happen sometime. The Oxford Plant is at full capacity. BMW have plants in other countries. It will be a political decision wherever.
Magna Styer today officially announced plans to start building the MINI SAV in their Austrian plant facility. Remember that Magna already builds the BMW X3 SUV for BMW.
Think of this relationship as a MINI built under license.