UK. Their famous Sunderland site made headlines after Nissan upped their investment. Another Japanese company, Honda have also increased their production capacity but more than double in the UK. BMW may consider spreading the production of the MINI brand to different areas of Europe. Currently the MINI plant in Graz, Austria develops the MINI Countryman SUV model in association with Magna Steyr. Harald Kruger, a member of BMW's Management board has spoken of the idea saying "Our preferred option is to establish a contract manufacturer as a satellite production as close to our UK operations as possible, at the Nedcar plant in the Netherlands, with whom BMW is in discussions," The purchase of MINI was a stroke of genius from BMW. Since being purchased in 2001, sales have increased by a massive 21 per cent. In 2011 MINI managed to sell 285,000 vehicles. MINI really couldn't have a better backer than BMW, could they?