Mini at the Cowley plant

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Production at Oxford’s Mini plant will be suspended for three working days due a shortage of computer chips.

BMW said its Cowley factory will not manufacture cars on Friday or on Tuesday and Wednesday after the bank holiday weekend.

A spokeswoman said the company had taken steps to minimise further disruption and was monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

Other companies are also being hit by a global shortage of computer chips.

Jaguar Land Rover has suspended production at its Castle Bromwich and Halewood factories this week for the same reason.

Mini plant production

image copyrightGetty Images

The shortage has developed due to a rapid recovery in demand for chips from the motor industry, at a time when available supplies were being snapped up by the consumer electronics sector.

The plant in the city employs 4,500 people and produces about 5,000 cars a week.

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