The Mini Cooper SE is a sign of things to come in terms of electrification as parent company BMW is allegedly planning to remove the combustion engine altogether from the British brand’s lineup. Mind you, it’s not going to happen overnight considering Automotive News Europe claims the switch to an all-EV portfolio will happen by the end of the decade.
The report cites “people familiar with the matter” saying Mini is going to introduce its last car powered by a combustion engine in 2025. Two years later, the company estimates 50% of its sales will be represented by electric vehicles, and that only EVs will be available from 2030. We won’t have to wait much longer for a confirmation (or a denial) as BMW CEO Officer Oliver Zipse is expected to make an announcement on March 17 when it will detail the ambitious plan.
The decision makes perfect sense given the success of the Cooper SE and the fact electric cars are perfect as urban commuters. Factor in tougher restrictions (and even bans in some cases) in an increasing number of cities for vehicles equipped with traditional engines, turning Mini into an EV-only marque seems logical.
Mini would be the next automaker to announce plans about transitioning to an electric future, with Jaguar aiming to kill the combustion engine from 2025. Volvo plans to sell only EVs by 2030 when Ford of Europe targets to abandon gasoline and diesel engines from its passenger cars. Another relevant example is Bentley, which it too wants to sell only electric cars in nine years from now.
Meanwhile, Mini has already teased a John Cooper Works electric hot hatch and has promised to give the next-generation Countryman an electric derivative. The Vision Urbanaut concept might be a taste of things to come as far as a city-focused EV, so the BMW Group is certainly planning ahead for the post-ICE era.
Source: Automotive News Europe
