The new battery-electric MINI will begin production in 2019 alongside petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models. BMW has just confirmed that the battery-electric version will be a variation of the core 3 door model and plan a production run of four years. While drivetrain production will be located to the BMW Group’s e-mobility centre plants located in Dingolfing and Landshut in Bavaria, final construction will be completed at the UK based Oxford plant.
The political uncertainty of how Brexit will play out has added extra pressure when deciding the production location for the MINI 3 door model. Should unfavorable trade conditions arise tariffs could be applied to German sourced components driving up the overall cost of the car.
BMW usually commit to a seven year production run for new models yet have opted for only a four year run this time providing the flexibility to shift production to non UK based plants if required.
