Mini scraps U.S. launch plans for new electric models

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Would BMW abandon their new Spotlight factory in China? The news for MINI fans is getting much worse, as MotoringFile reports:
MINI Cooper’s Future Uncertain as BMW Halts UK EV Production Plans
 
With a bit of luck, the second generation j01 (j02?) will iron out the first generation issues. Hopefully shed 1/2 tonne and get rid of the inside. It may end up a blessing in disguise.
 
It's probably LFP in the J01. The U25 BEV is getting a refresh March 2026, potentially updated motors and/or batteries.
 
vader said:
With a bit of luck, the second generation j01 (j02?) will iron out the first generation issues. Hopefully shed 1/2 tonne and get rid of the inside. It may end up a blessing in disguise.
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There isn't much left inside the J01 to get rid of! Even though Oliver Heilmer has moved on to BMW, I doubt MINI would ever go back to the switches and knobs we know and love (and can operate without having to look at them).

Less weight => more money (which isn't going to sell) or less range (which isn't going sell, either).
 
vader said:
With a bit of luck, the second generation j01 (j02?) will iron out the first generation issues. Hopefully shed 1/2 tonne and get rid of the inside. It may end up a blessing in disguise.
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I mean, it's looking like there won't be another generation. BMW not moving production to the UK, and apparently eager to pull out of the joint venture that the J01 is being built under in China.

Our F56-based SEs are going to be collectables.
 
New Firefly EV Brand Will Go After Mini in Europe

This Autoweek article suggests the Chinese Nio Firefly would like to step in and occupy the small hatchback market MINI may be abandoning. Of course, the US, Canada, and Europe are putting up stiff tariff barriers to Chinese vehicles, but this Firefly's low base price of $20K might be able to offset those tariffs. The article says the Firefly has the appointments to be considered a premium car in China.

The Firefly is a plug-in BEV, but it also features Nio's battery-swapping alternative to plug-in charging. However, it would require a lot of Nio EVs to be sold first to support a robust battery-swapping network.

As the article claims, the Firefly looks much like the late Honda e from the side, but those space-alien headlights have suddenly made me appreciate Rivian's headlights.

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If it's anything like the Ora Good Cat, the low price will likely mean a crappy build and poor interior. And adding all of the safety stuff for North America would more than likely raise the price dramatically.
 
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There are only around 50-60 battery swap locations in Europe but what is interesting is they sell power back to the grid. I spoke to a NIO owner in Germany and he was hesitant about swapping because of the battery condition.
 
insightman said:
If Americans wanted small, sporty, electric cars, there would be small, sporty, electric cars from other manufacturers, too. I would not expect the market for used small, sporty, electric cars with EPA range ratings of less than 120 miles to be growing.

However, because Porsche can't get their electric 918s into production due to battery-supplier problems, a used F56 MINI Cooper SEs continues to be the most fun EV you can buy (I'm not counting the ultra-rare original Lotus-based Tesla Roadster). Of course, I'm assuming handling--not just acceleration--is included in the definition of automotive fun.
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My thoughts exactly.
 
I am certain there is a market in North America for small, fun, electric cars. The GTI still sells in good enough numbers for VW to keep homologating it for North America. The 500e isn't selling particularly well here because it's not a particularly good car for North America. In Europe, where streets are narrow and parking is at a premium, petrol costs perhaps two or three times what it does here, and buyers and owners of cars with petrol engine engines are taxed up the wazoo, it's a much more attractive offer.
 
SameGuy said:
I am certain there is a market in North America for small, fun, electric cars. The GTI still sells in good enough numbers for VW to keep homologating it for North America. The 500e isn't selling particularly well here because it's not a particularly good car for North America. In Europe, where streets are narrow and parking is at a premium, petrol costs perhaps two or three times what it does here, and buyers and owners of cars with petrol engine engines are taxed up the wazoo, it's a much more attractive offer.
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I would be interested how an Abarth 500 electric would have done in the US vs the Fiat 500e. They seemed to want to make the car a premium item, and it seems like an Abarth would have fit that better.
 
nowkent said:
I would be interested how an Abarth 500 electric would have done in the US vs the Fiat 500e. They seemed to want to make the car a premium item, and it seems like an Abarth would have fit that better.
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Only reason we got the 500e is so Stellantis could offset some emission fines. Abarth 500e doesn’t even sell well in EU. Its too niche
 
SameGuy said:
I am certain there is a market in North America for small, fun, electric cars. The GTI still sells in good enough numbers for VW to keep homologating it for North America. The 500e isn't selling particularly well here because it's not a particularly good car for North America. In Europe, where streets are narrow and parking is at a premium, petrol costs perhaps two or three times what it does here, and buyers and owners of cars with petrol engine engines are taxed up the wazoo, it's a much more attractive offer.
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I think there are around 280 cars left to sell in Canada. Was never a volume car and frankly price vs quality ratio is poor. My 500e is below avg quality

The app access issue for the 500e is becoming a fiasco
 
Very sad BMW/Mini is not going to bring the Aceman to the US. The size, premium price and availability of the new Countryman SE make it a no option for me. The dealer keeps prompting me to replace my current 2015 Countryman with the new Countryman. Although my Countryman has been incredibly unreliable it is paid for I will soldier on with it along with my SE
 
Our SE I will keep forever at this point. Tesla prices increase up to 9k on the 1st.. maybe they know something we don’t
 
Well seems like the M3LR and M3P drivers won't mind paying extra. Most other models get a $4k hike plus the $1k a few weeks ago.

That's a serious gut punch with iZEV gone and Roulez-vert on its way out.
 
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