Good news for Oxford

[Foley]

https://www.Oxfordm**l.co.uk/news/17759106.mini-electric-launch-building-cowley-39-huge-39-oxford/

 

[Oslernorth]

I have always casually criticised the range of electric cars. But it dawned on recently that I can't even remember the last time I did such a long journey. Electric cars will soon become the norm

 

[Essexyellows]

Despite "Brexit" ???? ?

I feel the urge to tag @Pete Burrett and other doom mongers.....

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Errm have you read that article? It includes this:

---------------------------------------------------
Oliver Zipse, BMW AG board member for production, said he was confident the new model would be successful but issued a warning about Brexit.
He said: "We're entering an era in which electric cars will become a common choice for our customers. The automative industry is in the middle of a transformative phase.
"We're committed to the UK as a manufacturing base, but we need certainty of the future relations between the UK and the EU."
Mr Zipse also confirmed BMW had stopped producing petrol engines at its Warwickshire factory for cars built in South Africa because of fears over post-Brexit tariffs.
---------------------------------------------------

And right in the middle of it is a link to another article saying (and I quote)

--------------------------------------------------
"BMW has given its strongest warning yet that a no deal Brexit will force it to move out of Oxford.
Senior representatives in the German car company sounded dire warnings about the future of Mini production in the city today.
Amid growing fears that the UK will crash out of the European Union on March 29 without a deal, the company is now actively considering moving everything to Holland.
With 4,500 jobs at risk, Graham Biggs, corporate communications director of BMW, said he could not give staff 'any guarantees' about the future.
He said: "In the event of a no-deal Brexit, some or all of the production of the Mini could be moved to Holland where we have a plant.
"We need frictionless trade and a no-deal Brexit will not give us that from what we can see."
-----------------------------------------------------

So despite Brexit so far - but NOT despite a no-deal Brexit, or any deal that makes it more difficult to trade.

 

[Foley]

Errm have you read that article? It includes this:

---------------------------------------------------
Oliver Zipse, BMW AG board member for production, said he was confident the new model would be successful but issued a warning about Brexit.
He said: "We're entering an era in which electric cars will become a common choice for our customers. The automative industry is in the middle of a transformative phase.
"We're committed to the UK as a manufacturing base, but we need certainty of the future relations between the UK and the EU."
Mr Zipse also confirmed BMW had stopped producing petrol engines at its Warwickshire factory for cars built in South Africa because of fears over post-Brexit tariffs.
---------------------------------------------------

And right in the middle of it is a link to another article saying (and I quote)

--------------------------------------------------
"BMW has given its strongest warning yet that a no deal Brexit will force it to move out of Oxford.
Senior representatives in the German car company sounded dire warnings about the future of Mini production in the city today.
Amid growing fears that the UK will crash out of the European Union on March 29 without a deal, the company is now actively considering moving everything to Holland.
With 4,500 jobs at risk, Graham Biggs, corporate communications director of BMW, said he could not give staff 'any guarantees' about the future.
He said: "In the event of a no-deal Brexit, some or all of the production of the Mini could be moved to Holland where we have a plant.
"We need frictionless trade and a no-deal Brexit will not give us that from what we can see."
-----------------------------------------------------

So despite Brexit so far - but NOT despite a no-deal Brexit, or any deal that makes it more difficult to trade.

Production starts in November, so I assume a huge investment has already happened and everything is moving ahead.
If BMW were seriously that worried about Brexit I wonder why they didnt delay this for a year?
The biggest exports are to the US, followed by Germany and then China.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

You'd hope so of course. But that's not what the company execs say in those two articles - of course, it may be that the delay in leaving has helped in his case, and they are now committed.
I think it does show (at the very least) that business is not so comfortable or sanguine about a no-deal as some might have you believe though!

 

[Essexyellows]

Errm have you read that article? It includes this:

---------------------------------------------------
Oliver Zipse, BMW AG board member for production, said he was confident the new model would be successful but issued a warning about Brexit.
He said: "We're entering an era in which electric cars will become a common choice for our customers. The automative industry is in the middle of a transformative phase.
"We're committed to the UK as a manufacturing base, but we need certainty of the future relations between the UK and the EU."
Mr Zipse also confirmed BMW had stopped producing petrol engines at its Warwickshire factory for cars built in South Africa because of fears over post-Brexit tariffs.
---------------------------------------------------

And right in the middle of it is a link to another article saying (and I quote)

--------------------------------------------------
"BMW has given its strongest warning yet that a no deal Brexit will force it to move out of Oxford.
Senior representatives in the German car company sounded dire warnings about the future of Mini production in the city today.
Amid growing fears that the UK will crash out of the European Union on March 29 without a deal, the company is now actively considering moving everything to Holland.
With 4,500 jobs at risk, Graham Biggs, corporate communications director of BMW, said he could not give staff 'any guarantees' about the future.
He said: "In the event of a no-deal Brexit, some or all of the production of the Mini could be moved to Holland where we have a plant.
"We need frictionless trade and a no-deal Brexit will not give us that from what we can see."
-----------------------------------------------------

So despite Brexit so far - but NOT despite a no-deal Brexit, or any deal that makes it more difficult to trade.

I did..... back linking is a "journalistic" (phrase used very loosely) thing these days. Purely for click bait. Then throw in a quote from a while ago to balance the good news..... or cast doubt, take your pick.
They won`t be throwing that investment down the pan anytime soon.

 

[Foley]

You'd hope so of course. But that's not what the company execs say in those two articles - of course, it may be that the delay in leaving has helped in his case, and they are now committed.
I think it does show (at the very least) that business is not so comfortable or sanguine about a no-deal as some might have you believe though!

I get what they have said, but what they have actually done is telling.
They will have invested significant amounts already which they could have delayed what 6 months?
I totally get how they dont want tariffs into the EU.
I am just a little sceptical as to what the execs are saying ...

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I did..... back linking is a "journalistic" (phrase used very loosely) thing these days. Purely for click bait. Then throw in a quote from a while ago to balance the good news..... or cast doubt, take your pick.
They won`t be throwing that investment down the pan anytime soon.

Oh - see. So the bits of an article you agree with are facts and bits you don't (like the execs comments) are 'fake news' or click bait! No wonder you like Trump!

 

[Essexyellows]

Oh - see. So the bits of an article you agree with are facts and bits you don't (like the execs comments) are 'fake news' or click bait! No wonder you like Trump!

I said click bait, its not fake. There is a difference. Clicks make data equals "value" .

The fact is that BMW have invested a significant amount of money in the plant and all the research/tech in the background. They won`t flush that for a good while.
When I think of how the factory has changed since I left school its fairly shocking TBH. Fair change over the years!

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I suspect that isn't in the last 3 years EY, unless you are a bit younger than I think you are!

 

[Sarge]

it was British Leyland when i did me apprenticeship there

 

[warksox]

This positive BMW announcement seems to be in line with several others from the motor industry in recent days, all of which seem to be fly in the face of all the doom and gloom merchants:

Jaguar to build all-electric XJ luxury car in Birmingham

The firm is expected to make a formal announcement this week that its Castle Bromwich plant will make an eco-friendly version of its luxury XJ saloon.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Why Jaguar Land Rover has changed its tune over Brexit

New models have boosted UK sales in recent months, but questions remain over the impact of cross-border checks

www.theweek.co.uk

No Deal Brexit is not big risk, says Aston Martin boss

Andy Palmer said he is bored of Brexit and broke with other car bosses by calling for the country to leave the European Union in October even if no deal has been reached.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Essexyellows]

I suspect that isn't in the last 3 years EY, unless you are a bit younger than I think you are!

Well I can remember the thousands of blokes on bikes pouring out of the gates, the old man was one of them, he worked in PSF Stores.
I think something like 60%+ of my year at Cheney went to the factory, probably one of the last big intakes of apprentices.

Makes me feel old!

 

[Peterdev]

I remember loads of BL workers pouring out of the factories on their bicycles in the sixties when I was leaving school.
Very few cars about then ironically.

 

[Oxford57]

There wouldn't be any room for a car with the rush of bikes coming up hollaway

 

[m]

I remember being aged about 12 and persuading a friend to take the 'challenge' of skateboarding down the subway [under the Eastern bypass] against the mighty river of bikes.

Carnage. Absolute carnage.