Electric MINI Cooper in Collaboration with GWM and BMW Officially Launched, Will be Marketed Starting in 2024

China's electric MINI Cooper glides on Spotlight Automotive. (Doc. MyDrivers)

JAKARTA - The electric MINI Cooper made in China has officially rolled off the assembly line at the Spotlight Automotive factory located in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province. It is known that this factory was launched in 2019 and was the result of a collaboration between Great Wall Motor (GWM) and the BMW Group.

According to the CarNewsChina report, Monday, October 16, the estimated global launch is expected to occur in the first half of 2024.

In this partnership, GWM and BMW each have a 50 percent stake, with a focus on car development and production, while product sales will be carried out through each company's dealer network.

In terms of design, the new MINI Cooper from China still maintains its characteristics with a classic design, round headlights, oval front grill, and two doors. On the inside, there is a 24 cm head up display supported by the MINI OS 9 system, while all the physical buttons below the central control screen are integrated into the head up display.

Two electric MINI Cooper variants will be available, with the entry-level variant (MINI Cooper E) using a 135 kW electric motor and 40.7 kWh battery, while the top variant (MINI Cooper SE) is equipped with a 160 kW/330 Nm front electric motor and battery 54.2 kWh. The 0–100 km/h acceleration time is 6.7 seconds with a maximum cruising distance of 402 km (WLTP).

The factory itself has a standard production capacity of up to 160,000 vehicles per year and plans to produce two additional pure electric MINI models in the future, including the new three-door MINI Cooper and the MINI compact crossover.

Although the price has not been disclosed, further information is expected to be available towards the beginning of 2024. Meanwhile, the MINI Electric, which has been in Indonesia since last June, is different from the Chinese version, with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 28.9 kWh and a range of up to 232 kilometers in battery condition is fully charged.

This update shows that the MINI from China has a longer range, so will this model also be brought to Indonesia? It's worth the wait.