MINI is Getting Ready to Start the Production of the Electric Countryman

• This will be the first MINI model built in Germany.

• The brand released many new pictures of the upcoming EV wearing camouflage.

• BMW is currently preparing its Leipzig factory ahead of the model’s launch.

MINI is currently preparing for the start of production of the upcoming Countryman EV and it released a number of pictures to show its progress.

This model will be the first MINI vehicle to be manufactured in Germany since it will share BMW’s Leipzig assembly plant with the 1 Series and the 2 Series.

Even if it is just now being converted to produce electric vehicles, this factory has been one of the BMW Group’s most sustainable operations for many years already due to much of its energy usage coming from wind power and green hydrogen.

Furthermore, the plant can store some of the wind energy it generates for later use due to a power bank composed of 700 decommissioned BMW i3 battery packs.

BMW is one of the few companies that believe hydrogen power will be very important for a decarbonized future and it shows this by employing the largest fleet of hydrogen-powered industrial trucks in Germany to move parts and vehicles around the premises of the Leipzig plant.

The paint booth at the factory is also optimized to reduce pollution by burning hydrogen instead of natural gas.

Rather than relying on an outside supplier, BMW chose to manufacture the batteries used in the MINI Countryman EV and future models built in Leipzig on-site in a facility that will be expanded to receive 8 production lines dedicated to EV components by 2024.

Speaking of the Countryman EV, MINI hasn’t revealed additional details about this model, but it published over 30 new pictures of the small electric crossover still wearing its bright yellow camouflage.

These images give a better idea of what to expect from the next generation of the largest model to wear the MINI badge, such as larger round headlamps and a new shape for the taillamps, two elements that have also been seen on the new 3-door MINI EV.

The company also hinted that this model will offer more space and greater comfort than the previous generation due in part to the compact size of the battery pack but also to an increase in overall size.

The 2024 MINI Countryman EV will enter production toward the end of the year, which means deliveries could begin in the first half of 2024.