Car workers from Cowley star in a BBC TV programme tonight looking at the nature of "Englishness.

Southern Eye, part of Think of England, a week of regional BBC programming to explore the nature of "Englishness", follows car workers transferred for three months' training to BMW's Regensburg plant in Bavaria. The Germans there work twice as fast, for fewer hours, and drink beer on the shop floor.

The show follows the workers, who will be building the new Mini at Cowley, from their first day at work to relaxing at the Munich Beer Festival and finds out what they feel about their new bosses, their German co-workers and their future. Beer creates a common bond between the workers and is available in Bavaria on the shopfloor. Barry Westall, of Faringdon, said: "This German said 'You English you drink'. I said 'We don't drink at work'. He walked away and came back with a beer and said 'In Bavaria you drink!' so I said 'yes'. It's impolite to say 'no'!"

Kevin Parsons, of Oxford, said: "My first night on the track I was really struggling. I just really had to focus on the job and concentrate to keep my energy levels up."

Timmy James, of Abingdon, said: "I know I was worried about it at first and I'll miss my family big time. It's a long time until Christmas isn't it?" The importance of the Mini to British manufacturing was stressed by Dr Norbert Reithofer, BMW board member for production.

He said: "The Mini will be one of only very few major producers to export cars built in Britain to all major markets in the world.

"The public can and should be very proud of a British product which has already been received so enthusiastically in markets as diverse as Japan, North America and Europe. Mini is good for Britain and Britain is good for Mini." BMW's investment in Oxford already amounts to 290m and a further 230m has been committed.

*Southern Eye: The Bavarian Job (BBC2) 7.30pm.