Ford of Europe, Bentley, Jaguar and Volvo will follow in selling only battery-powered electric cars, including the Mini, which will enter the world of electrification.
The magic of electricity attracts BMW
According to people familiar with the matter, the BMW Mini brand will become all-electric from 2030 as the automaker ramps up its transition to battery-powered vehicles.
One person, who declined to be named to discuss confidential information, said the popular British brand will roll out its latest combustion engine version in 2025, and nearly half of Mini sales will be electric by 2027.
People said Mini would only produce battery-powered cars from 2030. BMW CEO Oliver Zips is also set to announce the plan along with his annual report on March 17, the person said. On the other hand, a BMW Spokesperson declined to comment on the report.
MINI is tracking brands including Ford of Europe, Bentley, Jaguar and Volvo in unveiling plans to electrify their entire offering . High ratings from electric car companies led by Tesla combined with stricter emissions regulations have accelerated the global shift towards electric vehicles.
Mini’s decision to switch to all-electric will likely appeal to its urban customer base where combustion engine vehicles have been targeted with restrictions or outright bans. The decision comes as BMW seeks to counter Tesla’s success with models such as the all-electric iX SUV and i4 sedan that will go on sale this year.
The future of Mini from BMW
Commitments to carbon-neutral crops are accelerating the reshaping of the auto industry, and BMW will build Minis at its plant in Oxford, UK, where it also has an engine plant, as well as in the Netherlands and Germany.
The company plans to produce Minis in China with joint venture partner Great Wall from 2023.
Mini currently sells an all-electric vehicle, the Mini Electric, that wears the Mini Cooper SE badge in the United States.
Reports said the brand plans to offer a compact electric SUV designed in collaboration with Great Wall and manufactured in China.
As interesting as 2020 was to the world, 2030 could be just as impactful, especially for the auto industry. With the exception of Jaguar, which will move into the electric field five years earlier, many automakers have already announced the move to exclusively selling battery cars by the beginning of the next decade.
Volvo has long been part of the electric car industry, followed by Bentley, and then European Ford, which only announced plans last month to transition to all-electric power. Now, it looks like Minnie is hoping to catch up, if we believe Automotive News Europe’s knowledgeable sources.
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