Remember the New Moke that was launched two years ago by a company called Moke International? Well, the reinvented Mini-based buggy is still alive and it will now be entirely produced in the UK thanks to a new agreement with Fablink.
As reported by Autocar, the deal was enabled by a UK government grand. Recently, the EU and UK signed an agreement on tariff-free trade, making UK-based car production viable for small automakers who intend to export in the European Union. Moke International wanted to bring the Moke in the US market in 2021, but plans were delayed supposedly due to the pandemic.
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Moke International acquired the trademark and distribution rights of the car before initiating limited production in 2020 with a starting price of £20,000. This means that the new Moke has nothing to do with BMW Group’s MINI, besides being a part of its heritage.
Looking identical to the original 1964 Mini Moke that was sharing its underpinnings with the Alex Issigonis-designed Mini, the new Moke is said to be slightly larger to provide more cabin space. The FWD buggy is fitted with an updated 1.1-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 67 hp (50 kW / 68 PS), allowing a top speed of 68 mph (109 km/h). It also features upgrades on the suspension, brakes, and chassis.
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Since 2020, the Moke was engineered and sub-assembled in Britain’s Midlands region before being shipped to Cerizay, France for the final assembly. Thanks to the new agreement with Fablink – a manufacturing firm based in Northamptonshire – the whole process will now take place in UK facilities. Fablink currently has six factories in the UK, employing a total of 700 people, and has undertaken manufacturing and engineering work for companies like Land Rover and Morgan.