THE BOSS of BMW has hinted Mini production could be moved out of Oxford and Britain if a favourable Brexit deal is not struck. 

At the car maker’s annual meeting in Munich, chief executive Harald Krueger appeared to crank up pressure on the Government and Brussels to strike a deal which would not harm the car building industry.

The firm has a plant producing Minis in the Netherlands and there are fears the company could abandon its Oxford site for a continental plant if there is a 'hard Brexit'.

Mr Krueger told shareholders at the conference the company were 'planning in terms of scenarios'.

He added: "You know that we make Mini models at VDL Nedcar in the Netherlands. We're flexible."

The Cowley factory builds 1,000 models of the Mini every day out, but fears have been raised future investment could be lost as a result of Britain leaving the European Union, with BMW bosses currently deliberating over where production of a new electric version of the iconic car should be located.

Mr Krueger said the company hoped for 'pragmatism from all parties in the Brexit negotiations'.

He added: "That means no new barriers to trade, free movement for skilled workers."

The electric Mini is planned to debut in 2019 but previously a plant spokesman has said a decision has yet to be made on ‘ the model itself or the production arrangements’.

Previously, Unite union has said thousands of workers' livelihoods rested on the Government's negotiations with Brussels and called for manufacturers to be protected.

Currently the Cowley plant employs about 4,500 people.

Adding to the tension over the company’s future in the city, it is in the middle of  a round of strikes as workers battle over plans to change their pension schemes.

Talks between staff and the company are ongoing ahead of strike action next week over plans to close the final salary pension scheme.