BMW Goodbye Oxford... MINI Electric Vehicle Factory Moves to China

Mini Next-Generation Electric Car Ace Man Local Production in China
BMW to Make China Mini Electric Car a Global Strategic Base

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] German BMW Group is relocating the production line of the British Oxford MINI electric vehicle to China. The Oxford plant is the birthplace of the MINI brand.

As the Chinese electric vehicle market has recently grown rapidly, with sales expected to surpass 5 million units this year, it appears that the production line is being moved. Chinese media predict that this will impact the competition with US-based Tesla and influence the Chinese electric vehicle landscape.

According to Chinese media including economic outlet Caijing on the 17th, BMW will produce the next-generation pure electric vehicle, the 'MINI Aceman,' at a local plant in China scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

BMW previously established Guangsu Motors in a joint venture with Chinese automaker Changcheng Motors. Both parties are investing 5.1 billion yuan (approximately 1 trillion KRW) to build an electric vehicle production line (annual capacity of 160,000 units) in Zhangjiagang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, with the plant expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Chinese media reported that once the plant is completed, the Oxford plant will no longer produce MINI electric vehicles. BMW Group has so far produced both conventional internal combustion engine MINIs and electric MINIs (MINI Cooper SE) at the Oxford plant. It is said that the Oxford plant will produce electric vehicles only until the end of next year.

BMW Group plans to release the last internal combustion MINI in 2025 and convert the MINI brand to a fully electric vehicle brand before 2030.

Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI, stated, "As part of the joint project between Changcheng Motors and BMW, the next-generation pure MINI electric vehicle, the MINI Aceman, will be produced in China."

Regarding the production of MINI pure electric vehicles in China, BMW Group explained that China is the fastest-growing market for MINI worldwide and will be the center and strategic base of MINI’s global strategy.

In August, BMW Group unveiled the concept car MINI Aceman for the first time worldwide at 'gamescom 2022' held in Cologne, Germany, and last month showcased the concept car MINI Aceman in Shanghai.

BMW Group’s local production of the next-generation electric vehicle MINI Aceman in China is closely related to the rapidly growing Chinese electric vehicle market. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, electric vehicle sales in China reached 4.567 million units by the third quarter of this year. This represents a 110% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the total sales of the previous year within nine months. China initially targeted 5 million electric vehicle sales this year but has raised the target to 6 million.

Chinese media predict that once the MINI Aceman produced in China is launched in the market, it will compete with Tesla Model Y and impact Tesla’s management.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.