BMW boss hints cars may quit UK
BUYERS don’t care if Mini cars are built in Britain, the firm’s German boss claimed yesterday.
BMW board member Peter Schwarzenbauer said: “The brand being perceived as British, that’s important, but this does not mean that you have to produce it (in Britain). Most people don’t know where the cars are produced.”
His comments will fuel speculation that owner BMW will manufacture an electric version of the Mini abroad.
The German car giant are due to make a decision by the end of the year.
Around 70 per cent of the 360,000 Minis made at BMW’s Oxford plant are exported but there are fears that Brexit could lead to the EU slapping tariffs on UK-produced cars.
Car industry chiefs have piled pressure on Theresa May to maintain tariff-free trade, with the Prime Minister poised to trigger the UK’s divorce talks with the EU soon.
Jim Farley, boss of Ford’s European arm, said a “zero-tariff environment” was vital for his car firm’s 14,000 UK workers. And Ralf Speth, head of Jaguar Land Rover, said his firm needed fair trade, adding he was worried about the impact of Brexit on its 40,000 UK workers.
On Monday, French car giant PSA agreed to buy Vauxhall as part of a £1.9billion deal with General Motors. There are fears Brexit could put Vauxhall’s plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton at risk.
Mike Hawes, chief of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, warned tariffs could “jeopardise investment, growth and consumer choice”.
Reports say Ford are considering shifting part of its UK-based finance arm to Germany. Oil Rolls-Royce ......................... 757.0 -3.0 Royal Mail ........................... 403.5 -1.0 RSA ....................................... 592.0 -2.0 RBS ....................................... 238.9 -1.7 J Sainsbury ........................ 263.6 +3.4 SSE ...................................... 1520.0 -23.0 Severn Trent .................... 2335.0 -20.0 Serco ...................................... 113.1 +0.6 Sports Direct ..................... 285.3 -14.1 Shell ................................... 2253.5 +11.5 Sky ........................................ 998.0 +1.0 Smith & Nephew ............... 1219.0 -5.0 Smith WH ........................... 1736.0 0.0 Stagecoach ........................ 203.5 -3.7 Standard Chartered ......... 744.1 +1.9 Standard Life .................... 384.9 -15.1 TalkTalk ............................... 170.6 +2.3 Taylor Wimpey .................... 187.4 +1.3 Tesco ..................................... 189.0 -1.3 Thomas Cook ...................... 88.7 +0.5 Unilever ............................. 3916.0 +40.0 United Utilities ................. 974.0 -9.5 WITH TRICIA PHILLIPS TENANTS struggling to pay their rent could be missing out on financial help.
Poverty charity Turn2us say many private renters who are currently not getting any means-tested benefits aren’t being told they could get support via the new Universal Credit.
A typical example is a person who has lost their job and was declined housing benefit from their local council.
Housing benefit now comes under Universal Credit but renters aren’t being told they can receive it by applying to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Simon Hopkins, chief executive of Turn2us, said: “It is important to check what you are entitled to so that you do not miss out on help. This could mean the difference between going into arrears or not.”
You can find out more by doing a benefits check at turn2us.org.uk. Get help from your local Citizens Advice branch or call Shelter on 0808 800 4444.
You can apply for Universal Credit at gov. uk. THE chief executive of Costa Coffee owner Whitbread are vying for the title of Britain’s top female boss. Ex-Lloyds Bank boss Alison Brittain is up against Sophi Tranchell, who heads up ethical chocolate firm Divine, for the Veuve Clicquot Woman Award.