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BMW To make 500 electric Minis for California
Autoweek is reporting that BMW's Mini division will be converting 500 Mini cooper vehicles to electric power for customers in California.
The electric Mini Coopers are being built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.
BMW sources told Automotive News Europe that 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars.
The electric Minis are painted silver and have yellow roofs, the sources said.
BMW engineers working on the electric Minis are part of a new division called Project i established by the automaker to develop low-emission city cars.
The electric Minis will help BMW to meet new California regulations that will require carmakers selling cars in the state to offer zero emission vehicles.
Mini spokesman Cypselus von Frankenberg did not confirm that BMW is building electric Minis.
"BMW will announce whether it will build electric vehicles or not later this year," he told ANE.
in | by Kyle Pike | Car News | Permalink |
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