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BMW plant makes nine millionth car; new Mini to be built in Netherlands; Aston "passed the buck" over recall, all VW Polo R WRCs sold

BMW’s Dingolfing plant has made its nine millionth car, an M6 Gran Coupé. The German plant has been manufacturing BMW 6-series models since 1978, beginning production of the latest M6 Gran Coupé last year. The site will also start producing the new 4-series Gran Coupé from March.

Demand for the new Mini has been such that the car will now be built in the Netherlands as well as in the firm’s Oxford plant. An overflow factory in the Netherlands will be used to produce the hatchback from this summer, with both three and five-door versions likely to be made there.

Chinese state media has criticised Aston Martin for blaming a Chinese supplier for the recall of 18,000 cars. The news agency said Aston “passed the buck” over suspected low-spec plastics in the accelerator mechanism. Around three quarters of Aston models built since late 2007 were recalled.

All 2500 examples of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC have been sold. The limited-edition model is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 217bhp, however the new hot hatch isn’t officially sold in the UK.

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Smilerforce 18 February 2014

tacky aston

So a supply chain manager will have his p45 from aston!