A shortage of skilled labour could mean Rover's Cowley plant losing the chance to build the next generation of Rolls-Royce cars, writes By Roseena Parveen.

Speculation is growing over which of BMW's car plants will win the contract to make the new luxury car.

Cowley faces competition from five other sites in England, including the Derby plant which currently produces the Rolls-Royce.

But if Cowley were to win the contract for the new Rolls, about 2,000 new workers, equipped with the skills to build the car, would have to be found. A motor industry source told the Oxford Mail: "There are a number of implications for the Oxford area if the contract was won.

"Unemployment in Oxford is already almost nil. You would be looking to employ an extra 2,000 people to cater for production of the Rolls-Royce alongside the current manufacture of the Rover 75.

"But are you going to find 2,000 extra, qualified people here?

"To build a quality car like the Rolls, you need quality workers with the right skills.

"All these things have to be considered - and Oxford's low unemployment rates may work against Cowley."

The Cowley site - currently making about 80,000 Rover 75s a year - could cope with extra production. The paint shop was built to handle 150,000 cars a year, and capacity could be increased to 250,000.

Story date: Thursday 02 March

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