In an effort to simplify product offering to meet customer demands amidst remaining semiconductor shortages and the ongoing war in Ukraine, manual Mini production has been stopped temporarily but this could spell the end for future third-pedal equipped derivatives in the range.
All manual Mini production has grinded to a halt and while many would assume this is due to the increasing demand for less-engaging automatic options, it is instead accredited to the ongoing war in the Ukraine and the after effect of the global semiconductor shortage which has been plaguing the industry for more than two years.
Customer demand, which does have a preference for automatic derivatives, is the focus to “ensure production stability” according to Mini. The automaker has mentioned that this will be temporary and manual production “will be reinstated in the future when circumstances allow”, but considering the general preference of buyers, this could be the beginning of the end.
Mini further added that “This solution is the most effective way to ensure production stability so that we can continue to supply all our customers with new Minis” and since the Oxford factory of the brand was forced to shut down completely earlier this year, it seems to be the prudent option to ensure a relatively reliable and constant supply of new models are available.
Other European automakers who rely on former Eastern bloc countries for parts and materials have been forced to slow production with some halting operations completely. New car markets have been suffering the brunt of this catastrophe after production was returning to a semblance of normal with the semiconductor shortage.
All Mini models boasting internal combustion power were available with a manual gearbox to choose from, which is the cheaper alternative to the automatic alternative across the range.
