BMW Mini sales on target to cross 200,000 this year |
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Sun, 25 Sep 2005 00:35
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LONDON - BMW's Oxford plant, which makes the BMW Mini, is all set to celebrate as the sales of the model are on the verge of hitting a record 200,000 this year.
Production and jobs are also set to soar, as the company is to launch a new version of the car in 2007. BMW says that the 'Mini Triangle' will be responsible for the creation of more than 6,000 jobs. The triangle involves making engines near Birmingham, body pressings in Swindon and assembling the cars at its Oxford plant. However, the German carmaker announced that it would be moving its business out of London after it emerged that its Park Lane dealership was unprofitable.
BMW said that the West End dealership was now shelling out £1 million a year for congestion charges for test-drives and normal business practices. "Doing business in London is becoming increasingly difficult and there is a real danger that the cost of operating in London will become prohibitive," said Jim O’Donnell, managing director of BMW UK. The company was forced to employ one person to deal with the congestion charge. This charge costs BMW somewhere in the region of £300,000 a year, while parking costs makes up the rest of the million pounds.
“With the costs of doing business in London constantly rising I think that by the time the Olympics comes, the independent retailer in London will cease to exist. There are clear signs this is happening already in car, food and petrol retailing. Operational profitability is a key driver for all businesses and the Mayor of London should not underestimate its importance in the run-up to the Olympics,” O'Donnell said.
The German carmaker said that it would participate in the British International Motor Show next year. The company has not participated in the show for the last two years saying that it was not a good value for money.
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