BMW shifts Mini plant maintenance for Brexit buffer......

BMW is bringing next summer’s planned maintenance shutdown of its Oxford Mini plant forward to ensure against potential Brexit supply chain woes.

The production halt, which is a regular fixture in the plant’s calendar, will now shift to the beginning of April to coincide with the UK’s departure from the EU, scheduled for 29 March. Located in Cowley, just outside Oxford, the facility employs around 4,500 workers and produces 5,000 cars per week. BMW, which has owned the MIni marque since 2000, said the plant will remain open during the shutdown period, with maintenance, management and catering staff continuing to work on site.

"Planned annual maintenance periods at BMW Group production sites allow essential updating and equipment replacement to be completed over several weeks, while there is no production taking place,” a spokesperson for the German car giant told Sky News.