THE future of Mini at the BMW plant in Cowley (June 30) depends upon how many of the five core car models it plans to manufacture in Oxford will be fully electric.
The demand placed upon the car industry by climate change, air pollution issues and noise are clearly best addressed by electric vehicles of all types for surface transport on our roads.
The market for electric vehicles increased by 37 per cent in 2014 in the European Union as a whole, but was only 0.6 per cent of new registrations.
However, the largest increase in 2014 was 15,000 such vehicles here in UK.
New emissions standards likely to favour transition to electric cars do not take effect in the European Union until 2025.
However, consumers are already beginning to favour electric vehicles even more strongly here in the UK.
Monthly figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that electric car sales in the UK have risen dramatically during the past 12 months.
While only about 500 electric cars were registered per month at the beginning of 2014, this has now risen to an average of about 2,400 per month in 2015.
So the question is, will BMW at Cowley make a firm commitment to a major switch towards electric vehicles?
This would send a clear signal to related supply chain enterprises and help to ensure continuing long-term sustainable employment in vehicle manufacturing in Oxford for decades to come.
STEVE DAWE
County Press Officer
Oxfordshire Green Party
Bulan Road
Oxford
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