HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be secured when the production of two new Mini models begins in Oxford next year, BMW managers said yesterday.

After months of speculation, BMW revealed the new two-seater Mini Coupe would go into production at the Cowley plant in the final quarter of 2011, with the new open-top Roadster to follow in early 2012.

The managing director of the plant, Juergen Hedrich, said the new models were not expected to create new jobs.

But crucially they will help secure the livelihoods of 700 agency staff who work alongside 3,000 permanent staff at Cowley.

The work will be a big boost to staff at the plant, who saw 850 agency colleagues axed in February last year because of falling sales – although 700 have since been rehired by the firm.

Speaking at the launch of the new Mini One convertible yesterday, Dr Hedrich said: “We don’t create new jobs but it’s absolutely true these will help to secure jobs.

“These cars represent a bright future for the plant in Oxford and people are very excited.

“These new models help freshen the Mini line-up and help make the plant even more versatile and flexible.

Dr Hedrich said he did not expect the models to lead to an expansion of the Cowley plant as they will be produced on existing assembly lines which will be adapted to handle them.

However, the workers will have greater security against dips in Mini sales as they can be switched to produce the new cars, which are predicted to be very popular in Britain and the United States.

Dr Hedrich said the new models could also help create new jobs among its suppliers, of which 40 come from the UK, sustaining 10,000 British jobs.

Last year 216,000 Minis were produced at the plant in Oxford with about 80 per cent exported.

UK sales director Jochen Goller said: “There was a lot of interest after the new models were shown in Frankfurt.

“Our dealerships are very excited as they had people coming in and asking to buy the cars but we won’t start registering interest for the cars until six months before it is ready for sale.

“These cars push us into new areas. We don’t have a coupe or a roadster and these can help us reach a higher share of male customers.

“The demand for two-seater sports cars is very strong here.”

Another new model, the 4x4 Mini Countryman, will go on sale on September 18.

That vehicle will be built in Graz in Austria alongside the BMW X3 4x4.

However the new vehicle has attracted more than 6,200 expressions of interest from prospective buyers, helping to secure 11,000 jobs in Mini and BMW dealerships in the UK.