BMW Mini cuts 180 temporary jobs at plant

In February BMW Mini announced it was pausing work on a £600m upgrade to reintroduce electric vehicles

Mini said it had taken the "difficult decision" to cut 180 of its temporary workers at one of its plants.

The BMW Group said the "recent adjustment" at Mini Plant Oxford was a "long-planned measure" to align its workforce with "current business requirements".

The plant employs about 3,500 people and manufactures up to 900 Minis every day.

In February, it announced it was pausing work on a £600m upgrade to reintroduce electric vehicle-making at the plant, saying "multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry" led to the decision.

In a new statement regarding the job losses, it said: "Temporary work is one of the ways that companies can respond flexibly to the high volatility of the global economy.

"The BMW Group needs lasting flexibility, which is achieved, among other measures, by using temporary workers.

"This means that the number of temporary workers employed can fluctuate over time.

"While this is always a difficult decision, the recent adjustment to temporary staffing levels at Mini Plant Oxford was a long-planned measure to align our workforce with current business requirements."

The reduction of agency workers will be made via a phased approach, it continued.

In March, a group of Liberal Democrat MPs cited "post-Brexit red tape" could be a barrier to investment in the Oxford plant.

Shortly after, US President Donald Trump said he would hit foreign cars and car parts with a new import tax of 25%.

According to the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, Jaguar Land Rover and the Mini factory appear to be the most exposed by the new measures.

In 2023, BMW announced plans to invest hundreds of millions of pounds to prepare the Oxford factory to build a new generation of electric cars.

Production of two new electric Mini models was due to begin there in 2026.