A Complete Guide to Where New MINIs are Made & A Look Into The Future

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Since its inception, MINI has been synonymous with British ingenuity and even at times culture. This despite the fact that the classic Mini was assembled all over the world at various moments in its long lifespan. Similarly earlier this year MINI began production of models for the first time in China. This move has caused confusion in terms of what MINIs are made where and whether the brand is walking away from its British roots. Here are the facts.

Current MINI Production Landscape

MINI’s production network spans three countries, each specializing in different models.

United Kingdom: The heart of MINI’s production (and history) lies in the UK and currently at the Oxford Plant. This facility is responsible for assembling the iconic MINI 3-Door Hatch, 5-Door Hatch, and Convertible models. The Oxford plant, with its rich history, has been instrumental in new MINI production since the R50. Currently both MINI and the UK government is massively investing to expand the plant’s capacity.

Germany: The BMW Group’s Leipzig plant in Germany has taken on the production of the new, MINI Countryman available as both an internal combustion and electric vehicle. This marks the first time a MINI model is produced entirely in Germany and alongside BMWs the X1 and X2.

China: In collaboration with Great Wall Motor, MINI has established production facilities in China, focusing on J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman EVs. This partnership originally aimed to cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) globally. However with the current global atmosphere and the growing use of tariffs, the future focus will primarily be the Asian market.

	UK	Germany	China
J01 Cooper EV	X (2026)		X
J05 Aceman EV	X (2026)		X
F66 Cooper ICE	X
F65 Cooper 5 Door ICE	X
F67 Cooper Convertible ICE	X
U25 Countryman ICE		X
U25 Countryman EV		X

* MINI has moved from defined end of production (EOP) to TBD on several models.

Future Plans: Expanding J01 and J05 Production to the UK

Looking ahead, MINI has outlined strategic plans to expand the production of its J01 and J05 models to the UK by 2026.

The J01 represents the next generation of the MINI Cooper Electric. Currently produced in China, MINI plans to commence production of this model at Plant Oxford starting in 2026. This transition will not only bolster the UK’s role in MINI’s electric vehicle production but also cater to markets with tariffs on Chinese imports, such as the United States. 

The J05 MINI Aceman, a compact crossover EV, is also slated for production at Plant Oxford beginning in 2026. This model aims to bridge the gap between the traditional MINI Hatch and the larger Countryman, offering consumers a versatile electric option. 

What this will eventually leave is a heavy reliance on UK and Germany production with MINI’s Chinese facility being focused almost entirely on Asia.

The post A Complete Guide to Where New MINIs are Made & A Look Into The Future appeared first on MotoringFile.

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