A VERY British icon yesterday celebrated its 10th anniversary, after being reborn in Cowley a decade ago.

The first new Mini rolled off the plant in July 2001 after German car firm BMW invested £230m in UK car manufacturing.

The plant was officially opened by then Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Ten years later, the plant is about to celebrate the two millionth car coming down the line and Minis are exported to more than 90 countries.

City councillor for Cowley Bryan Keen said: “Before the Mini, people in Cowley were worried, but those worries disappeared when BMW came along.

“For the economy of Oxford, this was the greatest thing to have happened. I don’t know where the city would be without it.” He added: “On the site of the former car works, we now have shops, a hotel, children’s centre and lots more, but still have the industry.

“There’s been such an expansion. Cowley has never looked back.”

Last year the Mini plant produced 216,302 cars but back in 2001, BMW had estimated production to be no more than 100,000 a year.

BMW bought the plant in an £800m takeover of MG Rover Group from British Aerospace (BAe) in 1994 and had produced the Rover 75.

It has since invested more than £1.5bn in its UK operations since 2000, much of it in Cowley.

The company last month announced it was investing a further £500m and the first Mini Coupe was driven away on Friday.

Bill Jupp was a shop steward at the Cowley car works between 1952 and 1981.

The 79-year-old said: “The car industry has some rough times ahead, but the recent investment from BMW secures at least part of the future in Oxford.

“When I went up to the plant, thought to myself ‘at last, the workers now have a place where they can go and feel proud to work.’ “In our day it was like the black hole of Calcutta.”

His granddaughter Charlotte, 21, works as an apprentice at the plant.

He added: “I’m very proud of her.

“Ever since the 1920s when cars came to Cowley, it’s been a big part of the economic layout of Oxford.

“Take that away and you’ve got a huge hole. It’s important the car industry is kept at Cowley, not just for the workforce, but for Oxford’s economic future.”

The plant employs more than 4,000 people.

Ian Cummings, 59, a training manager in the vehicle assembly area, said: “The Mini has been a huge success and I am really proud to say I have been part of that.”

Chairman of Blackbird Leys parish council Gordon Roper said: “Ten years of the Mini is superb.

“It is good for Oxford, good for the workforce and we can all see from the sales how popular the car is.

“Lets hope we’ve got 10 more good years ahead.”