Mini has stopped production of all model variants with a manual gearbox, Autocar can confirm.
The manufacturer cited supply chain constraints as the main reason for the decision, which was exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the global shortage of semiconductors.
Production therefore stagnated, he told Autocar, and for this reason, along with increased customer demand, a decision to halt production of manual cars was made to “ensure production stability”. .
The cheapest Mini hatch currently on offer is the entry-level Mini 3dr Cooper Classic auto, which costs £18,815, compared to £17,415 for the manual version, an increase of £1,400.
Mini has yet to confirm if this decision will be permanent. Prior to this decision, all of its models were available for purchase with a manual gearbox except for the Mini Electric.
The company said: “Current circumstances, including the war in Ukraine and shortages of semiconductors, are causing supply chain restrictions in the global automotive industry.
“In order to ensure maximum production to meet growing customer demand, our product offering needs to be simplified.
“This solution is the most efficient way to ensure production stability so that we can continue to supply all of our customers with new Minis.”
Earlier this year, the Mini factory in Oxford was forced to close due to a shortage of parts caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Other automakers forced to slow production due to war-related shortages include Mini’s parent company BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Skoda and Volkswagen.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-01 23:01:24
