BMW has confirmed it’s delaying the reintroduction of electrical car manufacturing at its Oxford Mini plant.
The car producer mentioned “a number of uncertainties going through the automotive business” had led to its determination determination to pause work on the £600m improve of its plant in Cowley.
It mentioned it had determined to not settle for a associated £60m grant from the federal government however remained in “shut dialogue”.
The UK automotive business has been in a long-running debate with the federal government over its targets for electrical car manufacturing.
Automobile makers have argued that the variety of electrical autos they’re anticipated to promote on this and coming years is simply too excessive.
Earlier this yr, the federal government ran a fast-track session on adjustments to this coverage, often called the zero emission car (ZEV) mandate.
Final November, Stellantis cited the mandate as one of many causes it determined to shut its van manufacturing unit in Luton.
A press release from Mini proprietor BMW mentioned: “Plant Oxford is on the coronary heart of Mini manufacturing, manufacturing and exporting a variety of fashions, that are wanted within the UK and around the globe.
“Nonetheless, given the a number of uncertainties going through the automotive business, the BMW Group is at the moment reviewing the timing for reintroducing battery-electric Mini manufacturing in Oxford.”
It mentioned a lot of the funding was progressing, with development “nicely below technique to make the plant future-ready”, together with a mission to construct new “state-of-the-art logistics facility”.
The assertion added: “We’ve knowledgeable the UK authorities of our determination to overview the timeline for reintroducing battery-electric manufacturing in Oxford.
“As a part of this dialogue, we agreed to not take the beforehand introduced grant, however we stay in shut dialogue about our future plans.”
In 2023, BMW introduced plans to speculate a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of kilos to organize the Mini manufacturing unit in Oxford to construct a brand new era of electrical automobiles.
Manufacturing of two new electrical Mini fashions had been as a consequence of start on the plant in 2026.
The Division for Transport (DfT) mentioned it recognised the challenges automobile producers have been going through and was listening to issues.
It mentioned it was consulting on “reinstating the 2030 electrical car deadline whereas additionally defending jobs”, a call it mentioned was “supported by a majority of producers who’ve been working in the direction of this date and are on monitor to satisfy their ZEV mandate targets”.
The DfT mentioned it was investing greater than £2.3bn to help business and shoppers to make the swap to electrical.
