(REPOST: Electrek)
The Mini Electric is expected to be BMW’s first new electric vehicle in a series of new production EVs coming to market in the next few years.
Now a board member of the company suggests that it could result in the brand going electric only – not unlike Daimler did with its smart car brand in North America.
Like Daimler’s smart cars, Mini’s vehicle lineup is aimed at efficient city driving, which makes them great vehicles to be electrified.
Though in the case of the smart cars, the move may have happened too early as their current EV offerings weren’t on par with the gas-powered smart cars, which led them to lose two-thirds of US dealership following the move to electric only earlier this year.
Nonetheless, BMW is apparently considering the same move.
Management board member Peter Schwarzenbauer told Reuters today that they are in discussions with other automakers “around the world” to expand Mini’s electric lineup, which could lead to the entire lineup being electric only.
He said:
“We are talking to many OEMs (manufacturers) around the world, not only in China, (about) how to electrify smaller cars. There’s no final conclusion on it.”
The exec refused to name potential partners, but China’s Great Wall Motor Co has been rumored to be amongst them.
BMW has been known to partner with other manufacturers in order to build Mini cars and even vehicles under its main brand.