BMW-owned British carmaker Mini has detailed some of its upcoming products for the years ahead, with a focus on electrification and the Chinese market – including an all-new electric crossover to sit alongside the Countryman.
In a press release issued today, the company says it’ll continue to offer a choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric powertrains throughout its line-up.
Specific to the all-electric arm of this strategy, the Mini 3 Door Hatch EV is already on sale as the Mini Electric (or Cooper S E depending on where you live) and will continue into its next generation, along with a compact crossover model (Countryman) and a new, ‘small-car segment crossover’.
Pictured: Mini Electric (Cooper SE)
It appears the next-generation Mini Countryman will get an all-electric version and continue to occupy the compact crossover segment, with the new unnamed ‘small-car segment crossover’ to be exclusively electric and smaller than the Countryman.
The UK classifies ‘Small’ SUVs under ‘Compact’ ones in terms of size – for reference, the Renault Captur is a ‘small’ crossover while the Nissan Qashqai is ‘compact’.
Therefore, this new ‘small’ Mini crossover will be more ‘mini’.
Mini says its electrified sales now account for around 10 per cent of the brand’s global sales volume, essentially doubling 2019’s result where the only electrified offering was the Countryman Hybrid (PHEV).
Further, China is becoming an increasingly important market for the manufacturer, accounting for around 10 per cent of Mini’s global sales.
The BMW Group has secured a deal with Great Wall Motor to develop and produce electric vehicles in China for the Chinese market from 2023 as well.
“We are pursuing the ‘Power of Choice’ approach followed by the BMW Group through our broad range of advanced petrol and diesel engines, the plug-in hybrid system and all-electric drive, in order to meet the needs and aspirations of our customers throughout the world,” said Bernd Körber, Head of Mini (above).
“This enables us to create the conditions for further growth in global automobile markets.”
Keep your eyes peeled for more details on the new Mini electric crossover in the months ahead.
