Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the board of managers at the BMW Group, says that Mini is "the most urban car brand” but switching to full electric power is proving to be difficult due to the size of its vehicles. Schwarzenbauer said, “Electrifying Mini is quite a challenge, chiefly because of the small footprint of the cars.
But if you look at the role of electrification in the urban environment and the desire to be local emissions-free, there is no other brand with the credentials of Mini. It should be a natural fit, and that is the direction we’re moving towards for the future. The success of the plug-in hybrid Countryman shows what can be achieved, and the full-electric Mini that is coming will show another step.”
Schwarzenbauer added that the company will be using BMW Group's joint venture to build electric Minis in China. It was necessary qualify for the country’s New Energy Vehicles regulations.