BMW has announced that it will move the production of most of its electric Minis from Oxford to China, where it has a joint venture with Great Wall Motor. The decision is based on improving efficiency and tapping into the growing Chinese market. However, one electric model, the Mini Countryman, will remain in Europe, to be built at Leipzig, in Germany.
The Mini Countryman is a small luxury crossover SUV that offers more space and versatility than the regular Mini hatchback. It is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a 9.6 kWh battery. The system delivers a total output of 224 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque and can drive up to 29 miles on electric power alone.
