BMW delays electric mini on ‘uncertainty’

BMW has confirmed that it is delaying the re -production of electric vehicle production at its Oxford Mini Plant.

The vehicle manufacturer said that “many uncertainties facing the automotive industry” had given rise to the decision to stop the work on the £ 600M upgrade of its plant in Cowley.

It said that it had decided not to accept the £ 60M grant related to the government, but remained in “close dialogues”.

The UK automotive industry has been in a long -standing debate with the government on its goals for electric vehicle production.

Car manufacturers have argued that the number of electric vehicles they expect to sell in this and the coming years are very high.

Earlier this year, the government conducted a fast-track consultation on the change in this policy, known as a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Last November, Stalentis quoted the mandate as a reason. Decided to close your van factory in Luteon,

A statement by BMW, owner of Mini, states: “Plant Oxford is several models between mini production, manufacturing and exports, sought to be UK and worldwide.

“However, given the several uncertainties in front of the motor vehicle industry, the BMW group is currently reviewing the time to resume battery-electric mini production in Oxford.”

It said that most of the investment was progressing, along with construction, the “well to prepare the plant for the future”, including the project to create a new “state -of -the -art logistics facility”.

The statement said: “We have informed the UK government about our decision to review the timeline to resume battery-electric production in Oxford.

“As part of this discussion, we agreed not to take the first declared grant, but we remain in close dialogues about our future plans.”

In 2023, BMW Announced plans Creating a new generation of electric cars to invest hundreds of million pounds to prepare a mini factory in Oxford.

The production of two new electric mini models was scheduled to begin at the plant in 2026.

The Transport Department (DFT) said that it was recognized that the car manufacturers were facing and listening to concerns.

It said that it was consulting on “restoring the time limit of 2030 electric vehicles while protecting jobs”, a decision said that “was supported by most manufacturers who are working towards this date and their own Zave mandate is on track to meet goals “.

DFT said it was investing more than £ 2.3BN to support industry and consumers to support electric.