MINI Production (24 pics)

The Mini is currently assembled at the plant at Cowley, Oxfordshire where 4,700 employees (referred to as 'associates') produce up to 800 cars each day (approximately 240,000 per year). The 16 country specific variants of the three main 4 cylinder petrol engines having been assembled at the Hams Hall Plant near Birmingham where there are 1,000 employees. Mini sub-assemblies and pressings such as doors are supplied by the plant at Swindon where 1,100 are employed and 280 pressed parts are produced using 135 welding robots. The bodyshop at Cowley holds 429 robots assembling 425 body panels, the bodyshells are then moved to the neighbouring paint shop where paint robots apply the 14 exterior colour options and optional contrasting roof colours. Final assembly at Cowley then involves the fitting of 2,400 components to produce the numerous variants that are available to order.