BMW Group has announced that it plans to invest more than £600 million in its Oxford and Swindon MINI factories to develop a “new generation of electric MINIs”.
With the ban on Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car sales coming into force in 2030, many car manufacturers are preparing for the transition, and BMW says that by 2030, production at its UK factories will be exclusively electric.
BMW says it is gearing up to build two new all-electric models of MINI from 2026: the MINI Cooper 3-door and the compact MINI Aceman. By 2030, BMW says it will have spent over £3 billion on its Swindon, Hams Hall and Oxford plants since 2000.
Citroen Ami (Source: uk-mediacitroen.com)
BMW says the development of its UK plants “has been supported by the UK Government”. The Financial Times reported that “The investment by the German carmaker at the site in Cowley will be backed by about £75 million of taxpayer funds, according to people familiar with the matter.”
The Oxford MINI plant has also recently celebrated its 110th anniversary this year, and has been producing the MINI Electric since 2019.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the announcement, saying it was a “major vote of confidence in our car sector”.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said, “This decision is a big vote of confidence in the UK economy and the work of this Government to ensure the continued strength of our world-leading automotive sector.
Read more: Current+
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