BMW has announced a review of its schedule for producing all-electric Mini vehicles in the UK, citing ongoing uncertainties in the automotive industry.
In 2023, Mini committed to a £600 million ($757.80 million) investment to transition its brand to fully electric by 2030, with production originally set to begin in Oxford in 2026.
However, the German automaker is now reconsidering the timing of this shift.
"Given the multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry, the BMW Group is currently reviewing the timing for reintroducing battery-electric Mini production in Oxford," the company said in a statement on Saturday.
The electric vehicle market has not expanded as rapidly as anticipated, contributing to BMW’s reassessment. Additionally, the industry is facing potential trade challenges, including former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal of a 25% tariff on all U.S. auto imports. In response to such concerns, major automakers like Volkswagen's Audi and Mercedes-Benz have announced plans to increase production in North America.
Despite the timeline review, Mini confirmed that construction efforts in Oxford are progressing to modernize the plant. The company also revealed that it had informed the UK government of its decision and agreed not to accept a previously announced grant.
"As part of this discussion, we agreed not to take the previously announced grant, but we remain in close dialogue about our future plans," the statement added.
BMW has not yet provided a revised timeline for the start of electric Mini production in the UK. Photo by Michael Movchin / Felix Müller, Wikimedia commons.