BMW to invest in MINI UK factories...

  • Thread starter Thread starter CamFG
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 14
  • Views Views 1K
CamFG said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66745660

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere...

Presumably this will assist bringing the new model to the US? The article states the UK factory will transition by 2026...
Click to expand...
This article appears to confirm the fears the new MINI Cooper SE (and E) won't be coming stateside before 2027. I suppose BMW could themselves pay the US 27.5% import tariff on Chinese vehicles for a year or two before Swindon comes online, but would they do that just to maintain their established EV presence in the US market?
 
The Oxford plant should have a couple of years to prepare, so I would at least hope that they could have things rolling right away and deliver the new electric MINI Coopers in 2026 (as opposed to 2027). And if that's the case, hopefully we can start placing US orders towards the end of 2025. I just hope they don't discontinue certain colors prior to the US imports.
 
Bmw and mini went to China for two reasons. It’s the cheapest place to build cars and is or is becoming the largest car market in the world . I don’t think they can afford to leave their dealers in America stranded for three years . They are making the new se so cheaply in China that they can easily absorb the tariff for a few years and not disrupt the success their dealers have had with the se. Even if they don’t make any money off it , it would be the smart move. Maybe that’s why they are so tight lipped about it . They don’t want to kill sales of current se if new one is coming soon.
 
Will depend on what BMW wants to do with Plant San Luis Potosi. There's only so much money left to invest in capital expenditures with high interest rates.
 
teslarati97 said:
Will depend on what BMW wants to do with Plant San Luis Potosi. There's only so much money left to invest in capital expenditures with high interest rates.
Click to expand...
Dealers will be screaming bloody murder for product given how well the SE sold in NA
 
MrSnrub said:
Dealers will be screaming bloody murder for product given how well the SE sold in NA
Click to expand...
Especially if the rest of the world is having fun with the new SE.

Even though Canada doesn't impose the same tariff, I doubt MINI NA would bring it there if they're not also selling it in the US.
 
I have to wait and see what is going on with this whole NACS ordeal. MINI better come out with V2H/V2G so I can get a 24kW bi-directional DC fast charger installed in my garage.

sedcfc.webp
 
teslarati97 said:
I have to wait and see what is going on with this whole NACS ordeal. MINI better come out with V2H/V2G so I can get a 24kW bi-directional DC fast charger installed in my garage.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't expect MINI to offer V2L/V2G before BMW (or Great Wall Motor).
 
Puppethead said:
Not sure it's worth the effort for bidirectional charging for MINI's small batteries.
Click to expand...
I already have a 15kWh battery and grid-tie solar so I don't really need 100kWh+ from a V2H truck. From March to September I am about 92% energy independent, so the remaining 7% can be covered by V2H/V2G and the remaining 1% is just grid-tie losses from 60Hz voltage matching/synchronization.

Also the grid energy here is mostly coal powered, if that means anything..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top