Leipzig. The MINI Countryman production launch is a significant event, as it is the first MINI to be manufactured in Germany. It will share the production line with the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series, offering combustion-powered, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric options.
The special event celebrating the launch of the MINI Countryman brought together important figures such as BMW AG Board Member for Production, Milan Nedeljković; the Minister President of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer; the head of the MINI brand, Stefanie Wurst; Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs, Clemens Schülke; as well as guests from politics, media, and plant employees. The production lines were stopped for almost 45 minutes so that everyone in the plant could witness the live broadcast of the celebration.
The production of the largest MINI model to date is a significant step forward for the future of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. An investment of around €700 million has been made since 2018 to increase capacity and enable the production of the MINI Countryman. Additionally, the third generation of the vehicle will also be available with a fully electric drive. Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel stated, “Leipzig remains electrified.”
Nedeljković stressed the importance of skill and flexibility in the transformation process and highlighted the role of Plant Leipzig in advancing change. He mentioned that all BMW Group plants are capable of producing different models with different drives on a single production line, but what makes Plant Leipzig special is its flexible production system being used for multiple brands for the first time.
Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, emphasized the significance of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig for the region and the federal state. He stated, “The BMW site in Leipzig is a success story of modern industrial production and the launch of the MINI Countryman reaffirms the company’s commitment to ‘Autoland’ Saxony.”
Clemens Schülke, Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs of the city of Leipzig, expressed his positivity about the event and the impact of the MINI Countryman being produced in Leipzig, calling it a genuine success story.
Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI, discussed the characteristics of the new MINI Countryman, emphasizing its environmental credentials and versatile, powerful, and efficient drives.
Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel highlighted the historical importance of the MINI Countryman for the future of Plant Leipzig, stating that the plant’s headcount will increase by over 1,000 by the end of 2024 as the production of the MINI Countryman ramps up.
Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler spoke about the importance of the plant in Leipzig for the production network and expressed gratitude to the BMW Group for their trust.
The event was hosted by the radio and television presenter Roman Knoblauch, and in addition to the MINI Countryman, a digital friend named Spike was introduced as the Intelligent Personal Assistant to support drivers of the new MINI model family.
MINI Countryman SE ALL4 (combined electricity consumption: 18.5 – 17.0 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km).
MINI Countryman with combustion engine (combined fuel consumption according to WLTP: 8.3 – 4.8 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 188 – 125 g/km)
*All technical data is provisional.