WORKERS’ jobs at a major car plant in the UK are hanging in the balance.
A major car brand said it is ‘assessing’ the future of dozens jobs at of its plants.
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BMW has said jobs at its Swindon Plant “are currently being assessed,” casting doubt over the futures of workers.
The carmaker announced that it was axing 180 jobs from its Oxford factory on Sunday, amid uncertainty surrounding recently hiked US tariffs.
In March, US President Donald Trump declared that a 25% levy would be put in place on all vehicles imported to America from the UK.
This has put a significant strain on the British automobile industry.
It is currently unclear whether the new UK-US trade deal, announced this afternoon, will have any impact on this ‘assessment’.
BMW’s decision to reduce the workforce at the Oxford plant, could have a knock-on effect of further job cuts may be implemented in Swindon.
A spokesperson for BMW Group told The Sun: “Swindon has a much smaller workforce than Oxford and any potential changes would be proportionate to those we’ve already communicated in Oxford.
“Our plants in Oxford and Swindon work closely together, with Swindon producing metal pressings and body components which are then sent to Oxford for final assembly.
“Plants Oxford and Swindon remain at the heart of MINI production, together manufacturing and exporting a range of models in strong demand both in the UK and internationally.
“As announced in February, in light of the multiple uncertainties currently facing the automotive industry, the BMW Group is reviewing the timeline for reintroducing battery-electric MINI production at Plant Oxford.
“As always, discussions about changes to roles must take place with the individuals concerned and relevant trade unions first so we are not in a position to share further details at this stage.”
BMW’s Swindon Plant is situated in Bridge End Road, in Stratton St Margaret.
This is adjacent to a MINI Plant, which is also owned by BMW Group.
Here, the Swindon plant makes steel panels for MINIs which are produced at the company’s Oxford factory.
The Swindon factory employs approximately 500 people.
The plant produced almost 33 million panels and over 3 million sub-assemblies in 2023.
Last year, BMW was granted permission to extend its Swindon factory by more than 2,200 square meters.
This was done to improve the factory’s efficiency, and to maintain the number of jobs available on site – which are now under threat.
A BMW spokesperson told the Swindon Advertiser: “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 impact for temporary workers at the Swindon Plant is currently being assessed and will be communicated to the team shortly.”
The MINI plant in Oxford employs more than 3,500 workers.
BMW Group insists that the 180 people who have lost their jobs were all temporary workers.
On this decision, a BMW spokesperson said: “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.”
This is the second round of layoffs at the plant in only two years at the plant, after the company let go of several temporary workers there in September 2023.
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