ANOTHER MINI MILESTONE.

From Monte Carlo victories to iconic collaborations, MINI has always had something to celebrate. Now there’s another milestone: 25 years of the modern MINI, built in Britain since 2001. That’s a quarter century of MINI character – experienced in every drive, seen in every detail.

THE EVOLUTION OF AN ICON.

Attitude has always been at the heart of MINI, winning over drivers across the globe. So, when the modern MINI rolled off the line at Plant Oxford in April 2001, it marked the next chapter of an icon, reimagined for a new era.

Over the past 25 years, modern MINI has grown from the iconic 3 Door into a family of models, each with its own identity – all unmistakably MINI.

And the numbers? 4,671,664 MINI models built in Britain since 2001. Not that we’re counting…

A SPIRITED PRODUCTION.

At the heart of MINI’s modern era are two of the UK’s most important manufacturing sites: Plant Oxford and Plant Swindon. At Oxford, a new MINI rolls off the line every 78 seconds, while at Swindon, precision-engineered body panels are crafted every day.

Together, more than 3,000 skilled employees produce up to 800 MINI models daily. MINI brought more production home in 2006 when BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire began producing engines for MINI models built at Oxford.

Plants Oxford and Swindon have been part of their local communities for generations - 113 years in Oxford and 70 years in Swindon. Today, Plant Oxford is also an award-winning visitor destination, welcoming more than 17,500 MINI fans on tours in 2025 alone.

Plant Tours

THE PEOPLE BEHIND MINI.

It’s a huge milestone for everyone at Plant Oxford, including Markus Grüneisl, CEO, BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd - “This 25-year milestone is a proud moment for MINI and for everyone involved in its production here in the UK. From the very beginning, our plants in Oxford and Swindon have been at the heart of MINI’s global success, combining exceptional craftsmanship with innovation. Above all, it is our people - their creativity, expertise, and pride in what they do – that continue to make MINI so special.” 

25 YEARS. 25 FACTS.

Celebrating 25 years of modern MINI, we are revealing 25 facts that spotlight the people, places and production behind every MINI made in Britain.

People and workforce

  1. At Plant Oxford, a MINI drives off the production line every 78 seconds
  2. 111 apprentices across Plant Oxford and Plant Swindon
  3. The workforce represents 64 nationalities
  4. Over 3,000 employees across Plant Oxford and Plant Swindon
  5. The average employee age is 44
  6. The youngest employee is 16 and the oldest 68
  7. 115 employees from both plants will celebrate 25 years in service in 2026
  8. 26% of the workforce has been employed since 2001 or earlier
  9. Multiple family dynasties work across the plants, with some spanning three, and even four, generations
  10. Plant Tours have been running since 2008 and last year alone we welcomed over 17,500 guests to the Oxford plant.

    Since 2001*...

  11. 4,671,664 MINIs have been produced in the UK – lined up bumper to bumper, that’s more than the distance from Oxford to Sydney
  12. 14 model variations have been produced
  13. To date, 26 special edition MINIs have rolled off the production line
  14. The fastest factory produced MINI (by top speed) is MINI John Cooper Works GP (2020) at 164mph
  15. MINIs built at Oxford have been exported to over 100 countries
  16. 95 body colours have been offered, including British Racing Green, Chili Red and Sunny Side Yellow
  17. 11,579 different customisation combinations of body colour, wheels and interiors have been ordered
  18. The largest wheels fitted are 19”, with 15-19” fitted over the 25 years
  19. Top three colours registered in the UK over 25 years are Pepper White, Chili Red and Midnight Black
  20. These three colours make up 35% of total registrations in the UK since 2001
  21. 18,219,752 doors have been attached
  22. 19,892,276 seats have been installed – the equivalent of 221 Wembley Stadiums
  23. 38,769,848 metres of tyre rubber have been used – equivalent of a return trip from London to Sydney, or 97% of the Earth’s circumference
  24. 210,000 tonnes of glass fitted
  25. 750,000,000 brake horsepower has rolled off the production line
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