BMW Group and the Chinese OEM Great Wall Motor have signed an agreement to produce Mini electric vehicles through a new 50:50 joint venture based in China.
BMW and Great Wall Motor will found new joint venture Spotlight Automotive Limited for the development and production of electric vehicles in China. As well as Mini electric vehicles, the joint venture will also produce electric vehicles for Great Wall Motor.
The establishment of the new company is subject to approval from the relevant Chinese authorities and the completion of business registration procedures. The joint venture will be located in Jiangsu Province, where both partners will together create a new state-of-the-art production facility.
The production of future battery-electric Mini vehicles in China is a key element of Mini’s strategic development within the BMW Group’s Number One > Next strategy. The announcement will be a key part of Mini’s electrified future, and comes in addition to start-of-production next year of the first battery-electric Mini at the brand’s main plant in Oxford, UK.
“Today’s signing represents a new level of cooperation between China and Germany,” said Harald Krüger, chairman of the board of management of BMW, during the signing ceremony. “This strategic partnership is a clear win-win for the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor, enabling us to contribute to China’s ambitious plans to ramp-up new energy vehicles and reduce emissions in the mobility sector.”
The joint venture agreement was signed by Wei Jianjun, founder and chairman of Great Wall Motor, and Klaus Fröhlich, member of the board of management BMW for development.
“The strengths and expertise of both companies complement each other well,” said Fröhlich. “Our experience as a pioneer and leader in the field of electrification, coupled with Great Wall Motor’s proven track-record in efficient industrialization, enables us together to drive the growth of the largest e-mobility market in the world,” Fröhlich continued. “With our joint approach, we can quickly scale up production and increase efficiency in the highly competitive segment of compact electric vehicles.”
“Today’s signing opens a new chapter in Sino-German cooperation,” added Jianjun. “Great Wall Motor and the BMW Group share a commitment to promote new energy vehicles. With the combined strength of both partners, our new joint venture will accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.”
