MINI could choose Mexico for its next EV crossover

• BMW’s Mexican factory is already responsible for the 2-Series and the 3-Series.

• Production of an EV at the Mexican plant would save MINI from paying the fees from China-assembled EVs.

• MINI’s next EV could very well get its inspiration from the recent Aceman concept.

MINI’s future electric models may receive a bit of an American flavor, according to a report from Automotive News. Indeed, the publication has learned from sources who remained anonymous told AN that a pure electric crossover – which will not be the future electric Countryman, planned to be produced at the Leipzig plant starting in 2024 – could well be assembled at the BMW Group’s Mexican plant.

The San Luis Potosi complex in Mexico already produces the 2-Series and 3-Series, and the electric versions of the X3 (iX3) and 3-Series are already on the horizon to be produced there as well. At the time of writing, the MINI Division has not yet decided on this.

In addition to its assembly sites in England (at its Cowley plant), Germany (Leipzig) and China (where a joint venture with Great Wall Motor will produce electric vehicles), MINI may well be forced to consider its Mexican facilities to get around the tariffs (around 27.5 percent) that would be imposed on vehicles assembled in China.

According to a dealer interviewed by Automotive News, MINI electric models assembled in China would simply be too expensive for the U.S. market, claiming that an extra $7,000 would be added to the price of the vehicle.

The other point that favors BMW’s Mexican plant now is the fact that the complex is only used at 32% of its capacity, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

While it’s already a given that an electric three-door MINI is in the plans, along with the upcoming Countryman EV, there’s still room in the automaker’s lineup for a smaller electric crossover, a sort of replacement for the soon-to-be-discontinued and adorable MINI Clubman.

This crossover could well be based on the recent Aceman concept. Will it bear that name when it’s approved for production? It’s safe to assume so, but at this time, it’s too early to confirm.