After a drop in sales, Mini is changing course. The goal of 100 percent electric cars by 2030 has been abandoned. The car brand will continue to develop and sell cars with combustion engines.
Mini is now dropping its ambitious 2030 target. The brand will no longer focus exclusively on electric cars from the coming decade onwards.
Instead, Mini will continue to produce and invest in cars with traditional gasoline engines.
This is a significant change from previous announcements. Back in 2019, the BMW-owned brand promised a future consisting entirely of electric cars. The plan was clear: Only electric cars after 2030.
The reason for the new strategy must be found in the market. Mini experienced a significant drop in sales last year. The drop amounted to 20 percent.
Declining sales have led management to reconsider the pure electric car strategy. The time is not yet ripe for the brand to only have electric cars in its program.
The director of the North American importer, Michael Peyton, confirms the change in course. He explains the rationale behind the decision in a new interview.
– We are still moving in that direction, but we have seen, especially for North America, that internal combustion engines are still a thing and will be for the foreseeable future.
"So we've changed our strategy a little bit as a brand and are going to build engines longer," Michael Peyton told Automotive News .
Mini continues to invest in the combustion engine
This not only means that existing petrol models will be allowed to live on. Mini will also actively invest new money in the development of cars with combustion engines.
This is a signal that petrol cars are still seen as an important part of the business. Many customers still demand the classic engine sound and range.
Specifically, a new crossover model with an internal combustion engine is planned. It will take over from the discontinued internal combustion engine version of the Mini Aceman. This shows a clear commitment to continuing to have gasoline in the model range.
The decision positions Mini differently from other brands in the BMW Group. Not all are following the same path towards electrification right now.
There is now only one brand left within the BMW Group with a firm plan for full electrification in the near future. That is the luxury brand Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce sticks to the plan for electric cars
Rolls-Royce is sticking to its plan for full electrification. The brand aims to retire its iconic V12 engine by the early 2030s. The strategy remains unchanged despite market fluctuations.
Rolls-Royce will focus exclusively on electric cars in the future. Their first electric car, the Spectre, has proven to be a success in the market.
Later this year, Rolls-Royce is expected to unveil its second all-electric model, underscoring its commitment to the electric future and its belief in the luxury electric car market.
Mini's decision reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry, as more manufacturers adjust their electric vehicle strategies in line with market developments and customer demand.
Volvo Cars is among those who had to fall off their high horse and recognize that consumers will continue to demand cars with combustion engines for a very long time to come. Read more about it here .
