BMW to launch electric Mini in 2019

The new BMW electric Mini series is set to roll out sometime in 2019 with a battery-powered version of the BMW X3 to hit the streets a year later, the automaker announced.

The announcement comes as BMW’s competitors such as General Motors’ Opel and Renault launch their own eco-friendly vehicles at the Paris Motor Show.

“Competitors are now in phase one on their electric strategy, while we’re entering phase two. We’re already well on our way to electrifying the core portfolio, using powertrain technology from BMW i,” said the CEO of BMW, Harald Kreuger, in an interview with Bloomberg.

BMW’s electric Mini and other vehicles could be the key to their success in the coming years

In the same interview, Kreuger mentioned that sales of the hybrid vehicles could possibly reach 60 000 units this year.

In a previous Motorburn article, it was noted that in South Africa alone, only 300 models of its hybrid vehicles have been sold. “In South Africa, BMW has sold a total of 141 BMW i3s and 159 BMW i8s units since its local introduction, making BMW i3 the most successful EV in the market,” said BMW at the time.

Despite its success, BMW has hit a few walls in the past with concerns regarding the range and cost of its electric vehicles. It’ll be even tougher as the European Union seeks to tighten environmental safety laws, causing motor companies to buckle down on more eco-friendly technologies.

Featured image: RoadOver via Flickr