MINI’s Cowley factory in Oxfordshire has temporarily closed due to the combination of semiconductor chip ‘bottlenecks’ and the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
The closure is expected to last until Friday 18 March and tiny has said it is ‘assessing the situation and defining procedures to safe production again as soon as possible’. 

What the global semiconductor chip shortage indicates for UK automobile buyers

The brand had previously said the supply situation for semiconductor components will remain tough and that it can’t policy out the possibility of this impacting sales during the rest of the year.
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In April 2021 the same semiconductor shortages affected the plant and production was halted for three days. The Cowley plant currently employs 3,800 staff who will be affected by this week’s closure but there will be no impact to their pay. The site produces the tiny Hatch, both petrol powered and electric versions, and the Clubman estate. 
The semiconductor chip shortage is a global supply chain issue that has been affecting makers around the world. The semiconductor is a crucial component in a lot of modern automobile equipment, such as touchscreen infotainment systems, reversing cameras and air bags. 
The shortage has been created by supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. considering that the pandemic started, makers globally have had to temporarily close production facilities due to lockdown restrictions and a lack of parts, which has created a large backlog for new cars.
Check out our thorough review of the tiny hatch here..