New electric Mini to be built in Oxford

A completely electric version of the iconic Mini will be built at BMW's Cowley plant, the German carmaker confirmed on Tuesday.

BMW announced the Mini E would go in to production in 2019 with an electric drivetrain being built in Bavaria, before being put together at the main "production location" for the three-door model in Oxford's Cowley factory.

Research in to the Mini E began in 2008, building upon the brand's core three-door model it would be the first of many BMW products to be transformed in to a battery electric vehicle.

By 2025, the group expects 15-25% of their sales would be accounted for by electrified vehicles, with the BMW x3 announced for 2020 and the BMW iNext coming in 2021, with all the drivetrains being assembled in the company's plants in Dingolfing and Landshut.

BMW, who have owned the Mini marque as part of the acquisition of Rover from British Aerospace in 1994, stated the Cowley plant will only require minor alterations to the assembly line as the exterior of the car is essentially the same as models already under production at the site, which produces all but two of the current Mini range – the other two being made in the Netherlands.

The German parent company stated previously that it had contemplated making the vehicle within the Eurozone because of the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit decision, and in the lead up to the referendum was a staunch advocate to remain in the EU due to potential effects on its "employment base" in Britain.

As of December 2016, BMW had a workforce of 124,729, with just less than 10% of that being based in the UK at factories in Sussex, Birmingham, Swindon and of course, Cowley.

Business secretary, Greg Clark said the "landmark decision" recognises the "strength of the excellent workforce" and the "productive relationship between the automotive sector and the government."

Clark had previously attempted to persuade carmaker Peugeot to manufacture electric vehicles in the UK at the company's Vauxhall plant in Cheshire and, sent out letters to both Nissan and Toyota assuring the Japanese carmakers that the government would do everything it could to help the carmakers remain competitive after Britain leaves the EU.

BMW said it had "never sought nor received" any reassurances from the UK government, and with production on the Mini E set to start less than a year after Britain leaves the EU, Downing Street has yet to extended any.