BMW and Mini are joined at the hip and with BMW working toward the electrified technology of their new i-brand products that have brought us the i3 and i8 it seems the most logical choice for the next step in the market would be to offer us some Mini models that have the same technology and eventually are all-electric. Right now, more than ever before, the need to have models that are EVs on the market will be aided by the fact that BMW has been making this happen for several years where as their main competitor, Mercedes-Benz, is just now revealing their EQ concept.
BMW won’t focus just on adding electrification to the Mini lineup; they will certainly look to keep their loyal customer base happy with the products they offer by making sure some of the BMW models we already know will add EV to the lineup. With this goal in mind BMW has even set some dates to bring new models to the market that will carry some of the advantages and technologies that have been developed in the i-brand with the i3 and i8.
The new EV Mini model is being promised for the 2019 model year which makes this a new offering that we’ll get to discuss for the next couple years before the car actually makes it to the market. Not only will we see a Mini model that’s an EV by 2019, but the X3 will be made as an EV model and be offered only a year later in 2020. This X3 will certainly give us a vehicle that we’re familiar with and even though they haven’t announced with Mini model will be used yet, the expectation is that it will be one of the models we’re more familiar with such as the Cooper.
The benefit is that BMW has been working on EV technology in a separate forum with the i-brand for many years, which gives them a huge advantage in the market over the competition which is just beginning the start of phase one of the electric strategy for other automakers. As the BMW CEO states, this is now phase two for BMW and other brands will have to continue to try and catch up with them in this transition to a more extensive lineup of vehicles under the BMW umbrella that offer EV for the drive.
The sales of the BMW plug in vehicles have been strong and they are on track to sell nearly 60,000 units this year, which will double what was sold in 2015. There’s no denying the increased attention surrounding offering EV models on the market and being able to take advantage of the previously developed technology to fit it into a variety of new but familiar vehicles. As BMW works to see where else they can put their i-brand technology, we will be the beneficiary as a new Mini model comes to market and the X3 get the electrification that will allow us to enjoy some great driving and more efficiency than we’ve ever had before. The only question left for these new models, which we’ll learn soon enough, is what the EV range of these vehicles will actually be.