BMW has confirmed it’s to speculate tons of of tens of millions of kilos to organize its Mini factories at Cowley and Swindon to construct newest era and all-new electrical fashions from 2026.

BMW mentioned it can spend £600 million on revamping the Cowley plant, together with growing manufacturing traces, extending the physique store in addition to constructing battery set up and extra logistics services at Cowley and at its Swindon physique panel manufacturing facility.

This may put together for 2 new all-electric Mini fashions from 2026, the Mini Cooper 3-door and the new-launch compact crossover Mini Aceman. By, 2030, it’s deliberate that manufacturing quantity will likely be completely electrical with the BMW Group having spent over £3 billion on its Swindon, Hams Corridor and Oxford vegetation since 2000.

The Mini plant in Oxford presently produces the Mini 3-door, the Mini 5-door in addition to the Mini Clubman and the Mini Electrical. From 2024 the plant will begin producing the subsequent era Mini 3-door and Mini 5-door with combustion engines, in addition to the brand new Mini Convertible, earlier than they’re joined by the brand new all-electric autos in 2026.

The manufacturing facility will attain a manufacturing capability of round 200,000 automobiles per 12 months within the medium time period, with ICE and battery electrical autos initially being constructed on the identical manufacturing line. From 2030, the Oxford Plant will produce all-electric Mini fashions completely.

The UK funding will likely be backed by funding from the federal government’s Automotive Transformation Fund – understood to be price £75 million.

Mike Hawes, chief govt of UK business physique the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants, mentioned: “Not solely does it safe the long-term way forward for the house of one of many world’s most iconic manufacturers, it additionally demonstrates as soon as once more our capabilities in electrical car manufacturing. Investments similar to this enhance productiveness and assist ship jobs, development and financial advantages for the nation.”

The primary electrical Mini was launched on the Cowley plant in 2019 and because the model deliberate to go absolutely electrical by 2030, BMW’s choice was essential to way forward for its UK manufacturing base.

Apparently, final 12 months, BMW mentioned manufacturing of most of its electrical automobiles would transfer to China in partnership with Nice Wall Motor, suggesting that constructing typical and electrical automobiles on the identical website was ‘inefficient’.

Manufacturing of the subsequent era all-electric MINI Cooper 3-door and MINI Aceman will go forward as deliberate in China at a brand new manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang, and relies on a three way partnership with Nice Wall Motor. Exports will start in early 2024.

Forward of the UK ban on the sale of latest petrol and diesel powered automobiles in 2035 the UK has made a number of strategic investments in UK- based mostly EV manufacturing together with the choice to again Jaguar Land Rover’s “gigafactory” to supply batteries in Somerset, and Stellantis which is planning to ramp up EV manufacturing at Ellesmere Port.