BMW's Birmingham plant turns out 3-millionth engine

BMW's Hams Hall plant near Birmingham has built its three-millionth engine in a landmark production achievement praised by its owners and the Government.

The German company said the engine would be sent to its Mini site in Oxford to be installed in a car destined for the Indian market.

The Business Minister, Mark Prisk, said: "BMW's three millionth engine in a Mini that's now exported to 100 countries is emblematic of the current success of the UK auto sector. Last year UK automotive exports were up 15 per cent at an all-time high of £29.5bn in cash terms and engine production increased nearly 5 per cent to 2.5 million units."

Four-cylinder petrol engines have been built at Hams Hall for BMW vehicles for more than a decade. The engines go to production plants in Germany and Austria as well as Oxford and power the BMW X1, BMW 1 Series and the BMW 3 Series and all Mini petrol models.