Mini Plant in Oxford set to close for two weeks

A spokesperson for Mini told the Oxford Mail a combination of the situation in Ukraine and a shortage of microchips meant production would stop.

The spokesperson said: “The war in Ukraine has a significant impact on the country’s automotive supply industry.

“Combined with the ongoing semiconductor bottlenecks, these supply limitations mean further adjustments to the Plant Oxford production schedule are required.

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“Plant Oxford is now standing down production – Monday, March 7, to Friday, March 18 inclusive, for all shifts.

“We are assessing the situation and defining measures to secure production again as soon as possible.

“We are in constant communication with our associates and suppliers.

“We can confirm that no associate will go unpaid as a result of this stand down.

“The company and the trade union have agreed on how this is to be managed.

“Associates can choose to take holiday if they choose, but no one is forced to do so.”

Read again: Mini Plant forced to close for week due to microchips shortage

Last month, the factory closed for a week due to a ‘global semiconductor shortage’ – essentially a lack of microchips.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) recently announced global sales totalled approximately £409 billion in 2021, the highest ever annual total, and an increase of 26.2 per cent compared to 2020.

The industry shipped a record 1.15 trillion semiconductor units last year, as chip companies ‘ramped up production to address high demand amid the global chip shortage’.

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