MINI cuts workforce

With sales rising by 4.3 percent in 2008 compared to 2007 (232,425 cars sold), MINI is still not immune to the global sales slump affecting every area of the car industry. Today the maker announced it has cut 850 British jobs at its Cowley plant.

All 850 staff are agency workers on the weekend shift, and in addition MINI claims to be ready to dispense with 150 workers at its Swindon plant too - though each will be offered work at the Oxford plant.

MINI owner BMW blames a sales downturn for the move, which will see the Cowley plant close for one week - re-opening 23rd February - and its shift patterns change from March 2nd.

A BMW statement confirming the losses said: "MINI plant Oxford will be bringing in a new shift pattern in response to continuing volatile market conditions. The maker will now employ two shift groups, instead of three, and stop weekend working altogether. No permanent staff have as yet been laid off at the Cowley plant."

MINI is the latest in a line of makers cutting back in response to the economic downturn, with Aston Martin, Bentley, Vauxhall, Honda, Nissan and Jaguar-Land Rover all scaling back production recently.

Mark Nichol