BMW Announces Next Step In Vehicle Electrification Strategy
BMW Group has been one of the early leaders in 21st century electrification. In general, BMW seems serious about the transition to electric cars, and it produces a high-quality EV (BMW i3) as well as several plug-in hybrids. The BMW Group holds electrification as one of the central pillars of the Group’s corporate strategy. As part of that, it just announced a new, fully electric MINI, a variant of the brand’s core 3-door hatch model. This model is set for production in 2019.
BMW Group believes that all brands and model series can be electrified, and it now has “flexible vehicle architecture to enable electrification of every model series.”
A fully electric or plug-in hybrid drivetrain will eventually be offered in addition to the combustion engine option of every BMW model. BMW Group already has nine electrified models on the market, which is why it’s been a leader in Europe, but it should be noted that many of these models are only available in Europe. The most loved #1 world urban car, the full-electric BMW i3, is the best known of BMW’s innovative gems, but the fresh, new fully electric MINI and MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid (produced by VDL Nedcar in the Netherlands) will certainly be two of BMW’s cutest.
“The new, fully-electric MINI is one of a series of electrified models to be launched by the BMW and MINI brands in the coming years. In 2018, the BMW i8 Roadster will become the newest member of the BMW i family. The all-electric BMW X3 has been announced for 2020, and the BMW iNEXT is due in 2021.
“The battery electric MINI’s electric drivetrain will be built at the BMW Group’s e-mobility center at Plants Dingolfing and Landshut in Bavaria before being integrated into the car at Plant Oxford, which is the main production location for the MINI 3-door Hatch.”
By 2025, the BMW Group expects electrified vehicles to account for between 15–25% of sales. Factors such as regulation, incentives, and charging infrastructure will play a part in determining which end of that spectrum ends up becoming reality.
BMW goes on: “The BMW Group has benefited from its early start on the road to electrification. Indeed, the company’s pioneering, large-scale electric vehicle trial began world-wide in 2008 with the MINI E. Learnings from this project played a crucial role in the subsequent development of the BMW i3 and BMW i8, technology pioneers which themselves informed the company’s current range of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
“BMW Group production system will create structures that enable our production facilities to build models with a combustion engine, plug-in hybrid or fully electric drive train at the same time. In order to react quickly and appropriately to customer demand, the BMW Group has developed a uniquely flexible system across its global production network.
“Since 2013, all the significant elements of the electric drivetrain for these vehicles come from the company’s plants in Dingolfing and Landshut. Dingolfing additionally builds the plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW 5 Series and the BMW 7 Series and from 2021, it will build the BMW i NEXT.”
How about the MINI Superleggera?
Related Story: Why BMW Is Awesome i3 Vs Tesla Model 3 Electrifying Webinar
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