BMW Group Announces Minimum Assembly Postponement At Oxford Factory

The Oxford, British factory owned by BMW Group produces Mini electric vehicles. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - Unsatisfactory news came from the British auto brand, Mini. The manufacturer announced it had postponed production of its electric vehicles at the Oxford plant until an unconfirmed time.

This step was taken not without reason. This is because the manufacturer sees that the sale of electric vehicles is taking place slowly throughout the world.

Launching from Autocar, Monday, February 24, BMW Group as the parent company is reviewing the timing to re-produce battery-based electric cars from Mini at the plant.

Given the much uncertainty facing the auto industry, BMW Group is currently reviewing the time to reintroduce production of the Mini battery-electrics in Oxford, a Mini brand spokesman said.

The spokesman added that the British government grants that were previously announced without a certain amount should have been invested in the factory, but have now been canceled.

Earlier in 2023, BMW Group announced a new investment of more than 600 million pounds or Rp11.5 trillion (based on the current exchange rate) at the MINI plant in Oxford and Swindon which is fully supported by the British government.

The Oxford plant will be updated to produce the new three-door Mini Cooper EV, as well as the existing Aceman crossover model Clubman. Meanwhile, the body compression facility in Swindon will also be updated in order to accommodate these new models.

It is said that the Oxford factory will only reach full production capacity by 2026. This factory will produce around 200,000 cars annually, both with internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (BEVs) built on the same platform.