MINI to build new hatch at Netherlands plant

The BMW Group confirmed that the next-generation of the MINI Hatchback will be built at the VDL Nedcar factory in Born, Netherlands. The new MINI began production at the MINI production facility in Oxford, England recently and now the company says that it will begin rolling off the new car from its assembly line in the Netherlands this summer.

BMW revealed a few weeks ago, that the contract with the production facility in MSF in Graz, Austria would be pulled back. The MINI Countryman and Paceman were manufactured at this facility and 1,25,559 cars were built here in 2013.

"Contract production is a vital flexibility tool for us, and our experience gathered over the past ten years has been nothing but positive. Splitting production of the new MINI Hatch between Oxford and Born will give our global production network additional leeway. We appreciate the reliable, open and trustful cooperation with our Dutch partner, VDL Nedcar," said Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW AG's Board Member Production.

Preparations for the production launch of the new MINI hatch at the contract manufacturer VDL Nedcar are on target. A workforce of around 1,500 people will be responsible for building the new MINI from summer 2014. VDL Nedcar staff are currently receiving training on the BMW Group production system at the BMW plants in Leipzig, Oxford and Regensburg.

According to BMW, since the relaunch of the brand in 2001, nearly 2.8 million MINI vehicles have been produced.