BMW is set to make major changes to the Mini plant in Oxford after approval has been granted by the city council.
The plans will “increase operations” at the Cowley site by building a new trailer park, making changes to an existing logistics centre.
The German car giant said the changes would “streamline processes for car delivery and enhance existing systems.” and the development would "secure operational resilience in an evolving market, futureproof the plant's success and safeguard current employment levels".
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Work on the changes is expected to start early next year, it is being reported.
Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to pump £600 million into Mini factories in Oxford and Swindon, with ambitions to transform the plant in Cowley to all-electric production by 2030.
The company was lauded by councillors and politicians, including the prime minister after the multi-million-pound investment.
The Oxford Mini plant already produces the Mini three-door, the Mini five-door as well as the Mini Clubman and the Mini Electric.
From next year, the plant will start producing the next generation Mini three-door and Mini five-door with combustion engines, as well as the new Mini Convertible.
And from 2026, two new all electric Mini models will be built at the plant.
BMW claims the investment will secure more than 4,000 jobs.
Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "The investment in BMW is a very welcome economic boost for the city of Oxford.
"Our city has a long and proud history of innovation in the motor industry and we have been delighted to be at the forefront of the move to electric vehicles.
“Oxford City Council has been an early adopter of electric vehicle infrastructure."
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She continued: “Oxford boasts Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle charging hub at Redbridge and we are on course to achieve a Zero Carbon Oxford by 2040.
"This development will secure a long-term future for the BMW Mini Plant. The jobs it provides directly and indirectly locally are secure and that is great news for our city."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the investment at the time as “another shining example of the UK is the best place to build cars of the future”.
He said: “By backing our car manufacturing industry, we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country.”
The investment came just more than a week after the Oxford Mail reported that some temporary staff would be losing their jobs due to the company moving to a different shift pattern as it phases out old vehicle models.
In 2022, more than 50 per cent of all fully electric vehicles manufactured in the UK came from the Oxford plant.
The Oxford plant has been producing the Mini Electric since 2019 and it celebrated its 110th anniversary this year.
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