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First “Made in Germany” MINI, An All-electric MINI Countryman, To Roll Off The Assembly Line In 2023
BMW set to begin the production of first “Made in Germany” MINI, an all-electric MINI Countryman compact SUV.
Will roll down assembly line in Leipzig together with BMW models, including 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupé.
According to the German brand, one in five MINI models is already electrified.
The new battery-powered MINI Countryman compact SUV will not only start the models fully electric future this year but will also become the brand’s first vehicle to be produced entirely in Germany.
Starting this year, the new MINI Countryman will roll down the assembly line at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig together with the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. According to the brand, one in five MINI models is already electrified.
“We are looking forward to handing over the first MINI “Made in Germany” to our customers. 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 Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.
The Leipzig facility, where a core workforce of 5,600 employees produces around 1,000 vehicles every day, has been described as one of the most modern and sustainable automotive factories in the world.
The BMW Group has also invested more than 800 million euros (around $850 million) to expand its capacities for e-component production at the Leipzig site by eight production lines by 2024.
“Our Leipzig vision is the complete decarbonization of production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen. At the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, we are the first automotive plant in the world to use a newly developed burner technology in our paint shop that can use green hydrogen instead of natural gas.
“Hydrogen has already been used in plant logistics since 2013. Today, five hydrogen filling stations provide energy for over 130 fuel cell-powered industrial trucks, the largest fleet in Germany,” emphasizes Plant Director Petra Peterhaensel.
