BMW say Brexit WON’T affect MINI or Rolls-Royce production in the UK

BMW Board Member for Production, Oliver Zipse, has said that Brexit will have no affect on the volume of production for MINI or Rolls-Royce in the UK.

There’s been an endless raft of moaning from the car industry about the impact Brexit will have for car production in the UK. But Brexit is happening and, whatever the outcome of negotiations on free trade and tariffs, car makers just have to get on with it.

But one pragmatic voice has made it clear that Brexit, whatever difficulties it presents, won’t affect production volumes in the UK.

Oliver Zipse, BMW board member for production, speaking to Just Auto, has said Brexit will not impact on the volume of cars BMW builds at the MINI Plant in Oxford or at Rolls-Royce Goodwood, and that the engine facility at Hams Hall and the pressings Plant in Swindon will be unaffected too.

Zipse pointed out that the UK is their fourth biggest market and that it is important for BMW to be in countries where its cars are sold, and although there may be a hard border after Brexit – even if it is tariff-free – BMW are working with suppliers to manage that effectively.

It’s a sensibly pragmatic assertion from BMW, and one no doubt based on how valuable the UK car market is to German car makers. Car makers exist to make money, and BMW aren’t going to let a hiccup like Brexit get in the way.