BMW is expanding the production of its new Mini, not in the Oxford plant in the UK but, in the Netherlands. Production will start this summer in Born, Netherlands and will run by contract manufacturer VDL Nedcar.

However, it is expected that the UK would still be the main manufacturing base for the Mini but production of the Mini hatchback model would be split between Oxford and the Netherlands. Production in Born will also include the Mini convertible.

The company expects Mini production volumes at the Dutch factory to reach a five-digit figure this year, with around 1,500 people employed. BMW says it needs additional, external production capacity on top of the capacity of the Mini plant in Oxford, which is at about 260,000 units per year.

VDL Nedcar staff are currently receiving training on the BMW Group production system at the BMW plants in Oxford as well as German factories in Leipzig and Regensburg.

The Nedcar factory was previously owned by Mitsubishi, which built the Colt subcompact and the Outlander SUV models there. After ending production at Nedcar in 2012, Mitsubishi sold the plant to local bus maker VDL Groep for 1 euro.