MINI Countryman Electric Will Be the First MINI Produced in Germany

Ahead of its full-electric venture this year, MINI has announced that the upcoming MINI Countryman Electric will be the marque’s first-ever model to be produced entirely in Germany. The new Countryman Electric will begin its production later this year in the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, instead of MINI’s own Oxford plant in the UK.

"We are delighted to be able to hand over the first MINI "Made in Germany" to our customers in a CO2-neutral manner thanks to the plant's sustainable energy supply. In this way, the new all-electric MINI Countryman demonstrates what the brand stands for: electrified go-kart feeling and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint," says MINI boss Stefanie Wurst.

As one of the most modern and sustainable automotive plants in the world, the BMW Group’s Leipzig plan mainly obtained the bulk of its power supplies from four wind turbines located on site, thus making the production of MINI Countryman Electric more sustainable than other MINI models.

The upcoming MINI Countryman Electric will be joining fellow BMW Group models such as the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe in the plant’s assembly line. All of the electric powertrain components for the Countryman EV are also being manufactured in the same plant.

Ahead of its production, the BMW Group’s Leipzig plant has started the preparation by expanding its capacities for production of EV components by eight production lines by next year. This will further expand the plant’s current 1,000 units daily production capacity, as well as ensuring the production of other BMW Group models go by smoothly without interference or delay.

Although its performance specs are yet to be disclosed, the upcoming Countryman Electric is said to be boasting the similar powertrain setup as its fellow electrified cousin, the BMW iX1. For reference, the iX3 xDrive electric variant sports a dual-motor setup that delivers a total output of 268 HP and 494 NM, powered by a 64.7-kWh battery pack. Said battery pack provides enough juice to run the iX1 for a maximum travel range of 438 KM.

The new MINI Countryman Electric will start its production by the end of this year, and is poised to spearhead the marque’s future plan of becoming a full-fledged EV manufacturer by the end of the decade.