Now that England will withdraw from the European Union, I wonder what the effect will be on Mini production. Might BMW eventually move all manufacturing to the continent? Might prices climb due to tariffs? I believe some major shift is coming and am curious to see what direction it takes. I'll be looking at MotoringFile for some insight, but thought that some of us might have thoughts on this.

 

Obviously too soon to know with certainty, but seems likely costs will go up with new financial trade agreements to be written and the German content of current MINI cars.

 

Def. not going to be a static issue...
The auto industry doesn't do well with huge upheavals ....

 

Maybe a good time to buy a new MINI from existing (or inbound) inventory before MSRP inevitably rises.

 

BMW can switch production to many other sites as needed if making them in The UK becomes problematic. Too many people voted with the heart instead of being well informed. Me thinks they made a big mistake and ultimately the economy will shrink. Hopefully we don't do something as stupid in the USA.

 

Unlikely to be any changes in short term, but long term hard to say.

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news...and-working-uk

Not sure the majority were not well informed. They have had 43 years experience and decided it doesn't work. There are experts who also say their economy will ultimately grow. I have extensive family living in England who are very pleased with the results of the vote.

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

I'm glad you made this thread because I was tempted to do the same - I have a feeling we're going to see English policy go one of two ways:

1) Everyone realizes this wasn't a great idea, and that a) they remain in the E.U. or b) they remove themselves from the E.U. but keep the free trade policies established in order to keep foreign investment interested, or

2) England sees a way to beat up on foreign investors for "free" tax money to give to pensioners and other programs, raises the import/export tariffs. BMW et. al. see an unfriendly manufacturing environment and bring Mini to Austria where they manufacture the Countryman anyways (or hell, even Poland at this point).

This is a cool article, thanks for linking it.