Oxford: BMW to shut MINI plant for a month after Brexit date

BMW is planning to shut the MINI factory in Oxford for a month from Brexit day - the day that the UK leaves the EU.

Reports said that BMW was to bring a planned shutdown of its Oxford plant forward to begin on the same day the UK leaves the EU, in a bid to minimise the potential disruption a no-deal Brexit would create.

The famous MINI plant in Oxford will not produce cars for at least a month from March 29, 2019, as the German car maker activates the next stage of its no-deal contingency plans.

BMW said in a statement that it would move the shutdown, which will last several weeks, to coincide with Brexit in order to minimise any disruption risks in the event that no exit deal is agreed.

“Planned annual maintenance periods at BMW Group production sites allow essential updating and equipment replacement to be completed over several weeks, while there is no production taking place,” a BMW spokesperson said.

“As a responsible organisation, we have scheduled next year’s annual maintenance period at Mini Plant Oxford to start on April 1, when the UK exits the EU, to minimise the risk of any possible short-term parts-supply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“While we believe this worst case scenario is an unlikely outcome, we have to plan for it.”

The spokesperson added: “We remain committed to our operations in Britain, which is the only country in the world where we manufacture for all three of our automotive brands.”

BMW’s announcement is evidence of the concern that car manufacturers have that a no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for cross-border trade. There are fears that the Channel Tunnel would be effectively blocked by lorry congestion for weeks after March 29.