BMW Group to build future Mini E in China with Great Wall Motor

The BMW Group and Great Wall Motor announced the launch of the new joint venture Spotlight Automotive, through which they will build a joint plant in China, where the BMW Group will produce future fully-electric models of its Mini brand.

The plant will have a standard capacity of up to 160,000 vehicles per year, which will require around 3,000 employees after the ramp-up phase.

Both partners will together invest around 650 million euro (more than five billion CNY). The construction phase is planned for 2020 to 2022.

As well as production, the new joint venture also includes joint development of battery-electric vehicles in the world’s largest market for electromobility. The joint venture envisages production of future electric Mini vehicles, as well as several models and brands for Great Wall Motor.

The joint venture will not be creating an additional sales organisation in China for future electric vehicles. Every joint venture partner will use their own sales channel for their specific brands.