A million Minis have been exported to countries all over the world from BMW's plant in Cowley.

Since the new Mini went into production in 2001, the Cowley plant has exported more than 80 per cent of its manufactured cars to almost 80 countries worldwide.

In the USA - the Mini's biggest export market - sales have rocketed 33 per cent to 26,400 cars in the first six months of 2008.

In the same time period, its worldwide sales have shot up 17.9 per cent to 126,810 cars.