BMW marks 25 years of the modern MINI and the Swindon plant's part in it

The part played by BMW's Swindon plant in building the modern MINI was highlighted on 23 April 2026, as BMW Group marked 25 years of production of the car in the UK.

The Swindon plant has made body panels for the MINI since 2001, Swindon24 reported. Those panels had supported the production of more than 4.6 million vehicles at BMW's Oxford plant, where final assembly takes place.

What does the Swindon plant do?

Swindon makes the body components, which are transported to Oxford every day. The panels form the structure of every UK-built MINI, and the cars are exported to more than 100 countries.

The figures given

• Nearly 4.7 million MINIs built in Britain since 2001
• More than 3,000 jobs supported across the Oxford and Swindon plants
• 115 employees reaching 25 years of service in 2026
• More than 100 apprentices in training across BMW's UK sites

What did BMW say?

Markus Grüneisl, chief executive of BMW UK Manufacturing, called the anniversary "a proud moment".

He said: "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."

He added: "Above all, it is our people, their creativity, expertise and pride in what they do, that continue to make MINI so special."

Source: Swindon24.

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