BMW chairman, Dr Helmut Panke,
has assured the industry there are “no plans” to move production
of the Mini range away from its Oxford, UK, base, after he announced:
“Oxford will be the Mini’s only home.”
Production of all Mini models, including the new Mini Convertible, will remain in the UK following Panke's statement |
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Such news will provide a further boost to the UK automotive industry,
which has shown fresh signs of life in recent times, but Panke could not
resist a clear swipe at the British Government and urged the country to
join the Euro for the sake of economic reasons.
BMW’s head chief commented: “As a manufacturer we consider
the main advantages of British membership to be a simplification of transactions
and a more stable planning environment. Decisions on future investment
plans for the BMW group are clearly not going to be easier should those
differences in currencies continue in the longer term.”
The BMW group, which now employs 9,000 people in the UK and has invested €1 billion ($1.18 billion) in the country over the last three years,
has become the UK’s second biggest inward investor. Panke also confirmed
Hams Hall will assemble the gasoline engines from the joint venture with
PSA. |
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