MINI marks 60th birthday with 10 millionth car

MINI is celebrating the 10 millionth MINI produced since production of the iconic original began in 1959.

The landmark car – a MINI 60 Years Anniversary Edition – was built at MINI Plant Oxford.

Designed by Alec Issigonis, the classic Mini revolutionised the automotive world and was produced at Oxford until 1968, before moving to Longbridge, near Birmingham, where it continued to be built until October 2000. Between 1959 and 2000 more than 5.3 million classic Minis were built.

Since the brand’s rebirth in 2001 under BMW ownership, sales around the world have gone from strength to strength. Last year nearly 400,000 MINIs were sold in 110 countries across the globe.

Three UK plants have a part to play in MINI production today – Hams Hall near Birmingham makes engines and Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies, then it all comes together at Oxford with body shell production, paint and final assembly.

Daily output at Oxford has grown from around 300 cars a day in 2001 to around 1,000 today. The 4,500 strong workforce at Oxford produce one new MINI every 67 seconds.

In November 2019 the MINI Electric will begin production at Oxford and mark the beginning of a new era for the brand.

To celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary, MINI brought together 60 special cars (one from each year of production) at Plant Oxford, before heading to the International MINI Meeting in Bristol – an annual festival for MINI fans globally.

The cars were led by 621 AOK – the very first Mini built – with the 10 millionth MINI bringing up the rear.