BMW’S full electric mini to be built in UK

A fully electric version of the Mini is to be built in the UK, giving a huge boost to the car industry.

The firm’s German owners BMW said the new model’s electric drivetrain will be built at its plants in Bavaria before being integrated into the car at Cowley, near Oxford.

The car will be a variant of its three-door hatch model and will go into production in 2019.

BMW expects the electric models to account for between 15 and 25 per cent of sales by 2025. The group produces electric models at 10 plants across the world.

An electric Mini is expected to be a huge seller in the UK and overseas, and the news is a huge vote of confidence in the 4,500 Cowley workers. The decision is also welcome news for the UK’S automotive industry, which has been warning of rising costs if a free trade deal cannot be negotiated as part of Brexit.

Len Mccluskey, general secretary of Unite, said: “This announcement is a huge and totally deserved boost to a world-class workforce that has endured a tough few months.”