Per reporter: Pei Jianru Per reporter Per editor: Sun Lei
As the date of the "official launch" of pure electric MINI models is getting closer and closer, the trend of the MINI brand has also received more attention.
Recently, foreign media reported that as part of a broader reform of the brand, BMW Group is considering selling the MINI Oxford plant to Great Wall Motors, but then BMW Group denied the news.
In response to this matter, the relevant person in charge of BMW China also said in an interview with the "Daily Economic News" reporter that the above news was "false news." "It's the Group's strategy to fully electrify the MINI brand by 2030, and the Oxford plant is where MINI started, so there's certainly no such plan [on the Part of the Group]." The relevant person in charge of BMW China said.
The new model will be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show
In fact, the rumors that MINI's Oxford plant was sold to Chinese automakers may stem from its growing ties to the Chinese market.
At the end of 2021, MINI released a new brand strategy, focusing on sustainable concepts, multi-brand culture, digital innovation and other areas. Under the new brand strategy, the Chinese market has become the focus of THE MINI brand's global strategy.
Image source: Courtesy of the enterprise
A few days ago, it was reported that the first two MINI pure electric models for the Chinese market will be produced by beam cars located in Zhangjiagang, but at the same time, there will still be imported MINI models from the Oxford plant in China, and there will also be localized models produced in Shenyang.
In this regard, the above-mentioned relevant person in charge of BMW China said in an interview with reporters: "We do not comment on speculative information, and there is no more information to provide for the time being." ”
According to public information, as of now, the MINI brand has launched a new season of MINI three-door version, a new season of MINI five-door version, a new season of MINI CABRIO convertible, MINI CLUBMAN, and MINI COUNTRYMAN and other five core models in China.
Official data shows that in 2021, the MINI brand delivered about 30,500 new vehicles in the Chinese market, an increase of 5.2% year-on-year. According to the information previously disclosed, in the future, MINI's work in the Chinese market will focus not only on consolidating the brand foundation, but also on continuing to update the product array and expand the user base.
It is understood that this year, the five core models of the MINI brand will simultaneously launch special edition models, and all new cars will make their debut at the 2022 Beijing Auto Show and officially land in the Chinese market in the first half of the year.
In addition, MINI believes that the Chinese market will be at the forefront of MINI's global digital development, and the pace of progress will be faster. To this end, MINI has developed the MINI App application, which was launched in China in April 2021. In January this year, MINI upgraded the MINI App and launched the MINI community feature to enhance the user experience step by step.
The beam automotive production line is undergoing joint commissioning
It is worth noting that with the clock dialing into 2022, the MINI pure electric model is also one step closer to the launch.
Image source: Visual China
As early as November 2019, the beam vehicle project jointly established by BMW Group and Great Wall Motors was officially launched in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province. With a total investment of 5.1 billion yuan, an annual standard production capacity of 160,000 vehicles and about 3,000 employees, the project is expected to start production of MINI pure electric vehicles from 2023.
According to the plan, by 2027, the proportion of MINI pure electric vehicles in the world will reach 50%, and the proportion in the Chinese market will be even higher. By the early 2030s, MINI will be the first brand within the BMW Group to go purely electric.
"At present, the beam vehicle project is advancing as planned, the main building of the factory has been completed, and the production line is undergoing joint commissioning." The above-mentioned BMW China relevant person in charge told reporters.
And Great Wall Motors (601633. SH) also said on the investor interactive platform on February 15: "The beam automobile project jointly invested by the company and BMW is currently operating normally, and please pay attention to the listing information of the new product for the specific launch time of the product." ”
The reporter found that since the beginning of 2022, Beam Auto has released a large number of recruitment positions, covering vehicle research and development, process planning, manufacturing, quality management, supporting procurement, functional management and other fields. In addition to Beam Auto, the recruitment also includes 6 parts supporting companies of Great Wall Motors, including Zhangjiagang Great Wall Motor R&D Co., Ltd., Nobo Auto Parts (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., Jingcheng Engineering Auto Parts (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., Fig intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Nobo Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., and Nobo Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. East China Technology R&D Branch.
Among them, Zhangjiagang Great Wall Motor R&D Co., Ltd. is the second R&D center of Great Wall Motor; Nobo Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. East China Technology R&D Branch covers automotive interior and exterior decoration, seating R&D design and test engineering projects; Nobo Auto Parts (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd. is a first-class supplier of interior and exterior decoration, seats, rubber, automotive electronics, software system products; Nobo Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. products cover infotainment and cockpit domain control systems The products of Fig intelligent technology co., LTD. include iBooster, EPB, EMB, etc.; Jingcheng Engineering Auto Parts (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd. is a Seiko chassis intelligent manufacturing factory, mainly producing chassis products such as front and rear suspension.
Previously, BMW Group had said that unlike the traditional model of cooperation between Chinese car companies and overseas car companies, the beam car project is not simply the localization of foreign models, and its core value lies in the research and development of new products and new technologies. In the future, BMW Group and Great Wall Motors will conduct joint research and development of pure electric vehicles through Beam Vehicles, while the research and development affairs of Beam Cars will be led by the BMW Group, and the Chief Technology Officer of Beam Cars will also come from the BMW Group.
"Beam cars will allow us to further increase our production capacity and create more attractive MINI pure electric vehicles. At the same time, the MINI brand has also taken a key step in the electrification strategy. BMW Group Finance Director Peter has said.
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