Munich. The BMW Group is ramping up the global success of its MINI brand. Through a new joint venture in China, the key element being local production of future Mini electric. Yes!!! MINI Electric vehicles in the world’s largest market for electromobility. To this end, the BMW Group has signed a “letter of intent” with a Chinese manufacturer. The manufacturer’s name is Great Wall Motor. In addition, the first battery electric MINI will be at the main plant in Oxford starting in 2019. Hence, this signals a further clear commitment to the electrified future. Say hello to the MINI Electric brand.

So, the next steps! Agreeing on a possible joint venture and coöperation agreement. As well it’s must clarify aspects. Ah the details. You know, such as the choice of production place and “concrete investments”. The BMW Group has no plans to set up an extra sales in China.

Independently contracts are also being issued!! The BMW Group will further expand its highly successful BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture. That’s with it’s in China partner, Brilliance. Brilliance has two automobile production locations. BBA already runs an engine plant. This includes a battery factory for electrified BMW brand vehicles produced locally in Shenyang. This is the first battery factory operated by a premium automobile manufacturer in China.

However, since recent, BBA has become a cornerstone. A cornerstone of the BMW brand’s success. I mean, in its largest market. It serves as a model for the continued development of MINI in China. Around 560,000 BMW brand vehicles delivering to customers in China in 2017. That’s more than in the next two largest markets, the US and Germany, combined. In 2017, China was MINI’s fourth-largest market, with around 35,000 units delivered. This underlines the brand’s additional global potential.

The successful strategy for expansion of the BMW Group’s global production network obeys a clear rule: Production follows the market. However, expansion of the BMW brand in its largest markets, such as China, has not led to a decrease in production at the company’s German plants. On the contrary, between 2007 and 2017, production in Germany increased by close to a quarter to around 1.15 million vehicles per year. At the same time, almost half of all BMW production now takes place at plants outside Germany.

A similar growth strategy could accelerate development of the MINI Electric brand. Finally, it can be done, much without questioning the BMW Group’s commitment in the UK. The company has made significant investments over the years to step up its involvement in the country.

Source: BMW

23.02.2018 Press Release