OT: Brad - you here? BMW recalls 530 new Minis due to fire risk.
09-03-2001, 07:04 AM
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OT: Brad - you here? BMW recalls 530 new Minis due to fire risk.
BMW recalls 530 new Minis due to fire risk
MUNICH (Reuters) - BMW says it is recalling around 530 of its new Mini cars sold in Britain because of a fault which could cause a fire when they are filled with petrol.
The luxury car maker said it was aware of two cases where a build-up of static electricity had caused a localised fire. A spokesman in Germany said the company had made changes to the Mini's assembly and that earths were now being fitted to new models.
The recall would cost BMW about one million marks (320,000 pounds), the German spokesman said.
"We are recalling cars that are out there with customers in the UK, which of course are the only cars out there at the moment. It's around 500 cars," said Chris Willows, corporate communications manager at BMW (GB).
Willows said the parts needed to fix the cars would be available by the middle of next week and the risk of the fault developing into a serious incident were minimal.
"The chances of this turning into a fuel tank fire is infinitesimally small, we are assured by our engineers."
The Mini went on sale in Britain in July, after BMW salvaged it from the wreckage of its ill-fated ownership of Britain's Rover Group.
The car is due to go on sale in Europe in September, and in the United States and Japan in 2002. BMW expects to sell 100,000 Minis around the world in a full year.
Analysts believe that BMW will produce around 200,000 Minis in the medium term when it brings out a convertible, a pick-up truck and a "clubman" - a version of the old Mini which was a station-wagon with wooden slats on the side.
BMW has targeted the Mini at two market groups - 20-to 34-year-olds with higher than average income, and a second group aged 35 to 50 that can afford a second or third car.
Prices start at around 10,000 pounds.
MUNICH (Reuters) - BMW says it is recalling around 530 of its new Mini cars sold in Britain because of a fault which could cause a fire when they are filled with petrol.
The luxury car maker said it was aware of two cases where a build-up of static electricity had caused a localised fire. A spokesman in Germany said the company had made changes to the Mini's assembly and that earths were now being fitted to new models.
The recall would cost BMW about one million marks (320,000 pounds), the German spokesman said.
"We are recalling cars that are out there with customers in the UK, which of course are the only cars out there at the moment. It's around 500 cars," said Chris Willows, corporate communications manager at BMW (GB).
Willows said the parts needed to fix the cars would be available by the middle of next week and the risk of the fault developing into a serious incident were minimal.
"The chances of this turning into a fuel tank fire is infinitesimally small, we are assured by our engineers."
The Mini went on sale in Britain in July, after BMW salvaged it from the wreckage of its ill-fated ownership of Britain's Rover Group.
The car is due to go on sale in Europe in September, and in the United States and Japan in 2002. BMW expects to sell 100,000 Minis around the world in a full year.
Analysts believe that BMW will produce around 200,000 Minis in the medium term when it brings out a convertible, a pick-up truck and a "clubman" - a version of the old Mini which was a station-wagon with wooden slats on the side.
BMW has targeted the Mini at two market groups - 20-to 34-year-olds with higher than average income, and a second group aged 35 to 50 that can afford a second or third car.
Prices start at around 10,000 pounds.
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