Mini has confirmed that the Oxford factory will be upgraded in the future to support the manufacturing of its upcoming expanded range of electric cars. The company will be switching to an all electric line up from 2030 and this started a few years ago with the current three-door MINI Cooper. The company will be launching the new all electric Mini soon. The BMW Group has been using the Cowley factory since 2001 when the original ‘new’ Mini was launched. The factory is currently used for the three door and five door Mini as well as the current generation Mini Electric and Mini Clubman.
However, starting in 2024, the factory will start making the brand new combustion powered next generation in both the three and five door models and the Mini Convertible. Like a lot of other companies, Mini will stop making combustion cars in 2030 and there has been some initial concern that the Oxford factory won’t be used for EVs, putting some jobs at risk. However, BMW has confirmed that starting in 2026 the factory will also be making the new EV mini, alongside the ICE models.
To achieve this, BMW is investing a huge amount of money into the site, around £600m. Since 2000, BMW has invested £3 billion and the factory will be able to produce 200,000 cars per year.
BMW has said that the UK government has supported the investment with some financial aid, but the company hasn’t said how much this was.
