BMW has confirmed that it is working on all-electric versions of its X3 SUV and Mini hatch. Revealed as part of its third quarter financial results, the new plug-in models will be at the vanguard of the second phase of BMW’s electric mobility strategy.
Alongside the already announced expanded BMW i range – which will include the i8 Roadster and iNext – BMW will bring an all-electric Mini to market in 2019, followed by a BMW X3 EV in 2020. It is just the start though as BMW’s results statement said: “The BMW Group will press ahead with its plans to systematically transfer all-electric, battery-powered mobility to its core brands.”
The news follows on from the announcement a couple of weeks ago that the new Mini Countryman will include a plug-in hybrid variant, using powertrain elements from the BMW 225xe plug-in MPV.
BMW boss Harold Krüger said: “BMW i has always stood for a great deal more than alternative powertrains: BMW i is our ‘spearhead of innovation’, ensuring that the BMW Group maintains its pioneering technological role.
“We have already proved this in the field of electric mobility – and we continue to write our own success story in the fields of automated driving and digitalisation.”
BMW has just announced that it has sold more than 100,000 electric vehicles worldwide, and expects to sell more than 60,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2016 alone.
Pictured is the Mini E prototype.
