Mini has been running TV commercials in the US bragging that the new Clubman is built in Oxford England. However the VINs of all of the Clubmans our local dealer has in stock indicate they are built in Germany.

I understand there is a Mini factory in England but it doesn't appear to make cars for the US market. Why would Mini be showing advertising in the U.S. telling us we are getting English cars when that's not what they send here?

 

They are made in England. The 11th digit of the VIN is the factory location. The first digit indicates the country of the manufacturer.

 

That is the way cars are made now. Final assembly England, more German however! http://gbmini.net/G2/v/2015/Clubman/...geViewsIndex=1

What about the rest of it? China? ?

 

Interesting. I didn't know that. The VIN for a VW & Ford I had showed they were made in Mexico. I'd always understood the VIN had to correspond to the country of final assembly, but the 2016 Mini Clubman VINs still start with a "W", indicating Germany. If they are assembled in Oxford, shouldn't they show the starting letter for the UK?

 

The explanation on Wikipedia:
Again, BMW uses the 11th digit to encode the factory of assembly. "2" is Oxford.

Many (but not all) of the BMWs made in Spartanburg, SC start with "W". The code for that factory is "L".

 

Thanks for the info. I learn something every day if I bother to pay attention!

 

Where did you get that notion?

All MINI production is in Oxford except for the Countryman from Austria.

 

Sorry but that isn't correct according to many sources, here is one http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-...d-netherlands/

 

As I've already explained, I had previously understood the first character of the VIN showed where the final assembly of the car had taken place. That has been true of every other car I've owned, hence my incorrect assumption.

I've now understand that doesn't apply to EU cars, that they can use the corporate headquarters symbol even if made in a different country.

Hope that clears up your confusion about my confusion.

 

Yes, some MINI are made for certain markets are produced in India, but for India.
http://articles.economictimes.indiat...r-s-countryman

And the new plant for some MINIs in holland.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bm...A1G0UL20140217

most are oxford, and Austria.

 

If last 7 digits of VIN start with:

2/T : Oxford plant (Some Cooper/Cooper S Hardtops, JCW Hardtops, F54 Clubman)
3 : Born, Netherlands plant (As of 2016MY, Cooper/Cooper S Hardtops, F57 Convertible)
W: Graz, Austria (Countryman/Paceman)