Production of Oxford Mini factory suspended due to chip shortage

Mini’s Oxford factory has suspended production due to a global shortage of semiconductor chips.

Last year the factory shut down due to the same issue of chip shortages and figures show that UK vehicle manufacturing has fallen to its lowest level since 1956.

Mini is just one of many factories to shut down amid the shortage of semiconductor chips - the automotive industry worldwide is feeling the effects of this blow. 

The automotive marque’s owner, BMW, commented: "As a result of the global semiconductor shortage, an issue that has affected the entire automotive industry for the last year, Plant Oxford is making some short-term adjustments to its production schedule." 

They continued to emphasize that production at the plant would come to a complete halt for a whole week. 

BMW added: "We are monitoring the situation very closely and are in constant communication with our associates and suppliers."

Mini’s Oxford plant has around 3,500 workers and is said to produce around 5,000 cars a week.

The shortage of chips has become an increasingly significant problem for Toyota, as they recently slashed their production targets as a result.

On the other hand, automobile company Jaguar Land Rover said that their situation had “improved somewhat” despite their production and sales being "significantly constrained”.

Figures from last month showed that annual vehicle production in the UK fell to its lowest level since 1956 due to the shortage.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive, Mike Hawes, stated that the chip shortage would continue to put pressure on the industry. 

Hawes added that in the first half of 2022, the industry would approach with “a lot more optimism” when the supply and demand for the chips return.