BMW may move some of its engine production from the UK to Austria in the event of a no-deal Brexit, one of its board members revealed on Tuesday.

“We have some flexibility on the engine side with Steyr in Austria,” Peter Shwarzenbauer told Reuters at the Geneva car show. “We would need to make some adjustments toward Steyr. We are preparing to be able to do it.”

Schwarzenbauer also told Sky News that BMW will “have to consider” ending Mini production at its Oxford plant if the UK leaves the EU with no deal in place.

The car maker has previously announced plans to bring a planned shutdown of its Oxford site forward to begin on the same day the UK leaves the EU.

The group also has plants at Hams Hall, Goodwood and Swindon, and a sales and marketing branch in Farnborough. The German brand employs 8,000 people directly in the UK, and supports around 14,000 more jobs through retail networks.

BMW is one of many motor manufacturers to make a start on contingency plans in an effort to reduce the potential disruption a hard Brexit.

Also on Tuesday, the head of Toyota’s European operations said a disorderly Brexit could put future investment at its UK factory near Derby at risk.

Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Show all 5 1 /5 Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Jaguar Land Rover Britain's largest automotive manufacturer announced in January that it plans to cut 4500 jobs from its 40,000 workforce Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Nissan The Japanese car company announced early in February that it would no longer be making the new X-trail model at its Sunderland factory Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Honda Honda has announced that it is planning to close its Swindon plant with the loss of 3,500 jobs PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Michelin Michelin announced in November that it will close its Dundee tyre factory which employs over 800 people by 2020 PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Schaeffler Shchaeffler's Llanelli plant is to close by the end of 2019. The company provides automotive and and industrial parts worldwide and the Llanelli plant employs over 200 people. Juergen Ziegler, chief executive for Europe, said that while Brexit was not the only factor, it has "brought forward" the decision to relocate Google

Jaguar Land Rover announced last year that it was moving workers at its Castle Bromwich plant to a three-day week because of “continuing headwinds impacting the car industry”. Its chief executive has warned repeatedly of the risks Brexit poses to the sector.

Last month, Honda announced plans to close its Swindon plant, putting 3,500 jobs at risk.