Production capacity layout becomes a problem: where will BMW electric cars be produced?

According to foreign media reports, Peter Schwarzenbauer, owner of BMW Group's Mini brand, told reporters that BMW Group will decide by the end of 2017 whether to continue production at its existing factory in the UK or the Netherlands, or to choose a new factory.

This statement was also echoed by BMW Group CEO Harald Krueger, who claimed that the BMW Group is currently considering whether to produce electric vehicles at the Oxford plant in England, the Born plant in the Netherlands, and the Leipzig and Regensburg plants in Germany. However, Krueger also revealed at the Geneva Motor Show that considering the structural problems of electric vehicles, they may be produced in multiple factories.

Brexit uncertainty creates crisis

Schwarzenbauer said that the tariff issues arising from Brexit and where BMW is produced need to be carefully considered, but more importantly, we must first consider where the electric vehicles produced will eventually be sold.

It is reported that 70% of Mini's current production is completed in the Oxford plant in the UK, but considering the series of problems caused by Brexit, Mini has also expressed deep concerns about this. British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK will withdraw from the EU single market, but it will try its best to maintain cooperation with the EU, and cars are also the UK's largest export business.

But when asked whether the change of factory would have a certain impact on the sales of models with the British flag logo on the roof, Schwarzenbauer denied it and said that Mini models are positioned in British culture, but this does not mean that Mini must be produced in the UK, and most people do not know where Mini is produced.

BMW is currently considering the future sales of electric vehicles in Europe and the United States. The launch of new models requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, and the BMW Group has also been constantly considering global layout issues.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.