OXFORD-based Member of the European Parliament Catherine Bearder has welcomed the launch of the new Mini.
The city-built third generation version of the iconic car, a more fuel efficient, model, was launched on Monday. Liberal Democrat Mrs Bearder said: “The investment to build this new car is great for Oxford and the UK. It secures local jobs for the future and keeps Oxford where it belongs, at the heart of the world’s car-making industry.
“It was fantastic to see the launch of the new car in its birthplace. The automotive industry is such an important part of British manufacturing.”
In total, the car industry employs 720,000 people in the UK and constituted 9.2 per cent of UK exports of goods in 2011.
Mrs Bearder added: “Forty per cent of all vehicles manufactured in the UK are exported to the EU.
“As the UK is a member of the European Union, our exporters pay no import taxes and have the same regulations allowing unhindered export of vehicles.”
A celebrity-packed world premiere event was held in London on Monday night and you can watch two videos from the evening, including a look at the new car, online at ow.ly/qY3Bt
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