MINI Production to Expand Outside the UK?
Our friends at Insideline had a chance to catch-up with Ian Robertson about the state of MINI and he had some interesting remarks. As we know MINI production is bursting at the seems. Recession aside, MINI is dealing with a plant that can only produce 250,000 cars while demand is expected to grow in many parts of the world. In addition to that, BMW is planning new models (as we’ve noted many times here on MF) beyond the current family of vehicles. While the BMW Group will be producing the MINI Crossover in cooperation with Magna in Austria, future production expansion will likely happen within current BMW factories around the world.
The first factory that comes to mind is BMW’s plant in Spartanburg South Carolina USA. Since the US is MINI’s largest market, it would make a lot of sense from a currency and shipping perspective to at least consider it.
Of course this would require further expansion of the Spartanburg plant and there are many economic realities that would have to fall into place before that would happen. However it’s an interesting thought that BMW could theoretically shift production of the iconic British car to the Southeast US.
We’ll have much more exclusive news on this and other production and product related changes next week.
<p>“…hint that a future direction might be downmarket of the existing car rather than up”</p>
<p>this is an interesting clip from the original article. i wonder if they mean to offer mini’s at a more aggressive price now that they’re becoming more common or just offer versions with less features…?</p>
<p>Having asked Ian the very same question about producing cars outside of the UK- he told me the same thing that they were looking into it and that any BMW Group product could be produced in any factory. So in theory the MINI could be built in Germany, South Carolina or even South Africa. He never tipped his cap if it would be done or where. (I did not find that all that ground breaking but whatever!)</p>
<p>He hinted that MINI may actually be a car people did not originally consider purchasing before the recession but afterwards they rather not give up “premium” but might want something a bit cheaper and more practical. Part of why the RR MINI was greenlighted and there may be some more premium editions like that coming.</p>
<p>Isn’t the X3 produced there and isn’t that vehicle on of the worst in BMW’s lineup? I think it would be good for the folks down there but worry about the quality. No offense intended to those who work there as I have no idea if this stuff is true but it seems Toyota, BMW and Mercedes are having troubles with cars produced here in the USA. I hope I’m wrong.</p>
<p>The current gen X3 is built in Austria by Magna. The next gen X3 will be built in Spartanburg SC, currently the home of the X5 and X6 products, former home of the previous gen Z4, Z3, and an initial run of 318i sedans, back around 1995 or so.</p>
<p>I haven’t heard of quality issues with the Spartanburg facility…perhaps others have.</p>
<p>Gabe – perhaps Spartanburg wouldn’t need further expansion…I would think it would all depend on how well the current X5 and X6 is selling. The next gen X3 factory expansion is well underway, nearing completion…the factory shutdown and update a few years back allowed for both the previous gen Z4 and X5 to be built on the same line. Sooo…my thought is that perhaps BMW starts going back to multiple shifts, keep the Spartanburg factory pumping out X5s, X6s, and whatever MINI variant they deem appropriate. Adding MINI wouldn’t necessarily mean another plant expansion. I don’t think Plant Spartanburg is running at capacity at the moment…but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I would have to say that a Mini produced elsewhere makes finical sense. Yet not likely to ever buy a non British Mini personally. To me the Mini is British to the core although I know they have help from the outside but changes some of the feeling of the car.</p>
<p>Then again I prefer German built BMW’s over those built elsewhere too.</p>
<p>Just a thought…….Here in the States we have a region called “New England”. And here in New Jersey we have a town named “Oxford”. I think ether or both would make perfect places to expand MINI production.</p>
<p>The x3 is made in Austria and it very shabby. Be prepared for a pig in a poke.</p>
<p>There are some real idiots that post on here. The X3 won an award about 1-2 years ago for the highest build quality in Europe. Yes it is not built in the US, why post if you have O facts. I owned two X3’s, a 2004 and a 2007. Neither had very many problems, the 2007 only problem was the transmission (made by GM) which shifted like crap from a stoplight. No other issues ever. I have bought a Z3, Z4 and X5 all produced in SC. The X5 had some issues but I believe they were all related to the fact that it was BMW’s first SUV and had many new components from new sources in the US></p>
<p>SMH for me personally I have no issue with the BMW’s coming out of SC (although I not a fan of SUVs). I guess the main issue for me is my personal perception, BMW is a German owned car manufacture while the Mini is a British car. No doubt this is the same feeling that happened years ago when BMW stopped being a German car and made the same moves. It does make great sense but still a tad sad for me.</p>
<p>I have thought SC for years, in fact the new MINI 4 wheel drive would be in better line with the X division in SC. Their is large cost savings by producing MINI there are far as labor cost/tax credit, transit savings among others,production unit similarities foe components that share the same construction. Platform Operations management techniques.
I dont know if the MINI/mini culture will agree with this because we still like it british made.
SC plant is a very nice plant and being a person who has been their every year for the last 4 years I can say, expansion projects are no limit for SC. Point in case the X3 division.</p>
<p>I think MINI needs to seek ways in order to bring back down prices to reality and see how on earth they are going to move unsold metal catching dust in dealer’s lots.</p>
<p>Worry about moving product and lowering prices than further expanding and falling flat on the effort.</p>
<p>On the bright side, perhaps the move to Germany may yeild a European delivery program.</p>