The new Mini has reached a production run of 1.5 million units, merely two years after hitting the 1 million mark, and eight years after production started back in 2001.

BMW CEO Ian Robertson and British Business Minister Ian Lucas were on hand to usher in the landmark model, a Chilli Red Clubman that is due to go to a customer in the UK. Despite the global economic gloom, demand for the New Mini doesn't look like waning. "This is a tough time for the car industry and no business is immune from its challenge. MINI is an extremely resilient brand with huge customer appeal and we have seen a strengthening order bank in recent months. We will launch a number of new models in the coming years and we are optimistic for the future." said Robertson.

The landmark is especially significant, given that this is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original Mini. Together with the original classic Mini that was in production from 1959 to 2000, of which 5.3 million were produced, total production numbers of both generations are close to seven million.