BMW will avoid production of its electric Minis in the UK and move production to factories in China, dealing a further blow to Britain’s battery-powered vehicle ambitions, the Times reported.
The German automaker makes about 40,000 mini-electric cars a year at its plant near Oxford but won’t do so until late next year, the newspaper said on Saturday, citing an executive at the helm of the Mini brand. BMW plans to move electric car production to its joint venture in China.
Stefanie Wurst, the new head of Mini, told the newspaper that the Oxford plant operates inefficiently having to produce electric and petrol cars on the same line. lines. However, there is no date to return to the UK, he said, according to the Times.
BMW will continue to assemble internal combustion Minis in the UK until the 2030s, basically for export to the US. The U. S. , Japan and the Middle East, according to the newspaper. However, the electric Minis will be built through BMW’s joint venture partner, Great Wall. Motor Co Ltd. , and at its Leipzig plant.
Meanwhile, three-year-old Britishvolt Ltd. , the U. K. ‘s bid to expand a local battery giant for electric vehicles, is at risk as it seeks emergency funding. Bloomberg reported this week that the company is promoting its site in the UK. The Financial Times said the company wants about 200 million pounds ($223 million) to fund it until next summer and is in talks with strategic investors.
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