MINI and BMW is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the modern MINI, which went into production at Plant Oxford in 2001.
The first MINI rolled off the line there on 26 April 2001 and more than 4.6 million have followed in its wheel tracks since.
The first MINI arrived as a hatch in One and Cooper trims, followed soon after by the supercharged Cooper S with 163bhp.
A year later, the MINI hit its first milestone of 100,000 cars built in 2002, and the Convertible was unveiled in 2004.
The John Cooper S Works GP Kit was a fitting sign-off for the first-generation MINI, though the Convertible remained in production alongside the second-generation hatch until 2008.
As much as reviving the Mini brand, the BMW-built MINI also pioneered personalisation to a new level in the way customers could specify their car so no two MINIs were the same.
Markus Grüneisl, CEO, BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd, said: ‘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.’
