One of the most iconic brands in the world has pledged its future in the UK as it looks to continue its positive development of electric vehicles.
Mini has been manufacturing vehicles at its Plant Oxford factory for more than 110 years and has contributed to over 2.25 million models being produced and a staggering total of 11.65 million cars since 1913.
The factory employs 3,700 associates who are capable of producing up to 900 Mini models every day, with a spokesperson for the brand telling GB News that it would continue to support the UK sector.
They said: "The BMW Group is strongly committed to the UK. We have four manufacturing plants including the Home of Mini with plants in Oxford and Swindon."
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The BMW Group has confirmed that Mini is committed to the UK
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Overall, the BMW Group registered 25.4 per cent fully electric sales in 2024 with registrations of electric Mini models growing by 55 per cent compared to the previous year.
Mini said it was "pleased with the positive growth" in electric car sales amid plans to continue to develop its EV strategy in 2025, while also keeping the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets as a priority.
The ZEV mandate requires brands to have a minimum percentage of sales come from zero emission vehicles every year, with a 28 per cent target for the end of 2025.
It has been instrumental in helping brands meet targets to produce more electric vehicles and meet the Government's target of achieving a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030.
Reacting to Mini's commitment to the UK, Dan Caesar, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, told GB News: "BMW's doubling down in the UK is further evidence of the increasing importance of its burgeoning battery EV market; the biggest in Europe.
Mini currently has four electric vehicles on the market in the UK
PA
"Since the launch of its i3, BMW has been one of the leaders in the battery EV space for over a decade, and is seeing its foresight repaid as consumers elect, in ever greater numbers, to go electric."
In 2023, the BMW Group announced that it would invest more than £600million in the Mini factories at Oxford and Swindon to ensure they focus on all-electric production from 2030.
It confirmed that UK production of two new electrified models - the Mini Cooper and Mini Aceman - will begin in 2026, in a further boost to the UK economy.
A consultation is currently underway to hear feedback from automakers and key industry figures regarding the future of the ZEV mandate and the deadline to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles.
It is seeking views on options to end the sale of new ICE cars from 2030, as well as potential requirements for new non-zero emission vans to be sold from 2030 to 2035.
BMW Group invested £600million to prepare its Swindon and Oxford factories for the EV transition
MINI
Speaking to GB News, Andy Palmer, founder of Palmer Energy, noted that the car industry may resist and lobby for change but will always deliver when it needs to, with electric vehicles being the latest hurdle for manufacturers to cross.
The former Nissan executive, who was instrumental in the development of the Leaf EV, said: "For the more progressive OEMs, such as BMW, the dawning of EV inevitability is ever present; as such they have taken actions to conform with the ZEV mandate (whilst still undertaking research in other technologies such as hydrogen) and this is to be commended."
Mini continues to elevate its offering for motorists with the first Mini Cooper Convertible rolling off production lines at the Oxford Plant in November.
It follows on from the first generation of the Mini Convertible with the Oxford factory building 160,000 models before producing 165,000 models of the second generation between 2009 and 2015.
At present, Mini has four electric models on the market namely the Mini Family, Mini Cooper, Mini Aceman and the Mini Countryman.
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The first Mini Convertible was produced at the Mini Plant Oxford in November last year
MINI
Palmer concluded, saying: "The key for Government is to now provide stability and support; stability on its determination to maintain the mandate; and support to the car and infrastructure providers in easing the transition with suitable compromises."
The Department for Transport confirmed that it was committed to helping motorists across the UK make the switch to electric vehicles, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves supporting uptake with a new £65million investment for on-street EV chargers recently.
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