BMW to shift UK electric Mini production to China and Germany

Cecilia Keating
clock • 4 min read
Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, visits the electric Mini line at the Cowley plant | Credit: TUC
Image:

Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, visits the electric Mini line at the Cowley plant | Credit: TUC

Double blow to UK's EV ambitions as BMW signals end to electric Mini production in Oxford, while Britishvolt seeks emergency investment amid challenging economic headwinds

Hopes of developing a leading domestic electric vehicle manufacturing base in the UK have suffered a double blow this weekend, with BMW pulling production of its iconic electric Mini out of the country,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Automotive

Reports: UK preparing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

Reports: UK preparing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

Move designed to protect domestic manufacturers, but new import tariffs could push up prices for electric vehicles

James Murray
clock 05 October 2026 • 2 min read
'Major achievement': Almost five new EVs sold in the UK every minute in September

'Major achievement': Almost five new EVs sold in the UK every minute in September

UK car industry hails record electric vehicle sales in September, with almost 100,000 fully-electric vehicles registered

Michael Holder
clock 02 October 2026 • 6 min read
The EV transition is accelerating - now we must ensure that everyone can live electric

The EV transition is accelerating - now we must ensure that everyone can live electric

The case for electrification has never been clearer, but the transition will only be a success if it’s fair and accessible for all, writes Pod CEO Melanie Lane

Melanie Lane, Pod
clock 01 October 2026 • 5 min read