BMW Group has announced that a battery-electric Mini will go into production in 2019 at the company’s factory in Oxford.

Its electric drivetrain will be built at the Group’s e-mobility centre in Bavaria before being integrated into the car at Plant Oxford, which is the main production location for the MINI 3-door Hatch.

Oliver Zipse, BMW AG Management Board member for production, said: “BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Landshut play a leading role within our global production network as the company’s global competence centre for electric mobility. Our adaptable production system is innovative and able to react rapidly to changing customer demand. If required, we can increase production of electric drivetrain motor components quickly and efficiently, in line with market developments.”

BMW’s corporate strategy is for all brands and model series to be electrified, with a full-electric or plug-in hybrid drivetrain being offered in addition to the combustion engine option.

The Mini E is one of a series of electrified models to be launched by the BMW and Mini brands in the coming years. In 2018, the BMW i8 Roadster will become the newest member of the BMW i family. The all-electric BMW X3 has been announced for 2020, and the BMW iNEXT is due in 2021.

By 2025, the BMW Group expects electrified vehicles to account for between 15-25% of sales. However, factors such as regulation, incentives and charging infrastructure will play a major role in determining the scale of electrification from market to market.

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