The all-new Mini will make its full world debut at the Birmingham International Motor Show in October in the build-up to sales due to start in spring 2001. Birmingham has been chosen for the Mini's full international debut as the city is both the birthplace and production home of the brand.

The car will be made at an all-new, state-of-the-art, Mini plant in Birmingham which will start production at the end of the year 2000 with sales starting in early 2001.

A concept of the new Mini was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997 where plans were revealed for the car to go into production at the end of 2000. BMW says the new Birmingham plant, which is part of a £700m investment, will produce the Mini using the latest BMW Group production technology and to exacting BMW quality levels. The Body in White factory, a £114m investment alone, was completed recently. Dr Henrich Heitmann, the member of the BMW board responsible for sales and marketing, said: "We are delighted that Mini is making its full debut in Birmingham, its home city. There is tremendous excitement surrounding the car both here and in the motoring public. We are putting our final plans in place for the start of sale next year and I can promise you a truly exceptional product."

* The current Mini ends production in September 2000 after 41 years and 5.3m sales world-wide. Supply of parts for the current model will be taken over by Witney-based British Motor Heritage.

Story date: Wednesday 09 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.