Mini is one of the few brands that’s still pursuing an aggressive electrification plan even as other automakers have been forced to rethink their priorities and change aspects of their electrification strategy. A core pillar of this plan was the decision to produce EVs in its home market of Britain but it appears that plans have now begun to shift with the company confirming it will not be building them in the UK after all.
A shift in plans
This shift in plans was revealed by Mini’s owner BMW Group during an interview saying“Given the multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry, the BMW Group is currently reviewing the timing for reintroducing battery-electric Mini production in Oxford,” the company said in a statement to Reuters.
This shift in plan came after BMW Group previously announced plans to begin assembly of Mini EVs at the brand’s plant in Oxford in 2026. However, this new statement appears to put a damper on these plans which may disappoint employees at the Oxford plant who hoped the EVs would help bring a jolt to their jobs as well as the local economy. The shift is not a surprise though with BMW Group facing a multitude of challenges from multiple fronts. In addition to threats of tariffs from Donald Trump, demand for EVs has begun to falter with demand for them not being as strong as BMW expected.
Oxford still a cog in the sales machine
While this news may sour the mood of some folks, a key takeaway here is that the plant is not being closed and will remain open which indicates BMW Group’s desire to still incorporate Oxford into its long-term plans. The company recently announced a massive $757 million investment into the UK with the goal of turning Mini into an all-electric brand with upgrading the Oxford plant remaining a high priority to help it produce as many EVs as possible.
This culminated in the British government giving the company a grant to help accelerate this goal. That grant will no longer be part of the plan either with BMW Group saying As part of this discussion, we agreed not to take the previously announced grant, but we remain in close dialogue about our future plans,”
In addition to BMW’s new moves, other European automakers are also adjusting their plans to reflect the tariff threat and slumping EV demand with Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz also confirming they will also be shifting their production and electrification plans to reflect similar struggles they are experiencing in sales while also preparing for any possible tariffs.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.