Mini announces 850 job losses as recession hits home
17 February 2009
BMW has confirmed that it is to lay off 850 UK workers as global demand for the Mini continues to decline.
Following on from similar moves made by the likes of JaguarLand Rover, Nissan and Ford over recent months, the manufacturer is to make the cuts at its Cowley production plant in Oxfordshire.
All of the 850 redundancies will be made among agency workers, with unions critical of BMW's handling of the situation after it emerged that they have only been given one week's notice.
According to one expert, this cost-cutting initiative indicates that Mini is "battening down the hatches for the long haul".
"It is yet another sign, this time from a very well-run operation, that customers are simply not going to be there for at least another two years," Professor Garel Rhys at Cardiff Business School's Centre for Automotive Industry Research told the Independent.
To date, more than one million Minis have been exported to around 80 countries across the globe since production of the new model of the iconic British car started at Cowley back in 2001.
Brought to you by Autoweb.co.uk – for all your Used Mini & Second Hand Mini
Latest Reviews
Toyota Avensis Tourer
Modern family estate vehicles need to be able to do it all, with stylish looks and sporty handling now just as important as efficiency, practicality and value for money currently. Now that the Toyota Avensis has undergone something of a facelift, can it therefore tick all the necessary boxes? Style has never really been the strong point of the Toyota, but the exterior of the vehicle has been re...
Smart For Two Boxfresh
If you were to pay attention on the next occasion that you are driving through just about any city centre in the whole of the United Kingdom, then you will be almost certain to make note of just how many Smart For Twos there really are driving around everywhere. For anyone who is looking for such a car that is a little more on the exclusive side, however, then the brand new Boxfresh Style model, ...