BMW increases sales of Mini EVs with an eye on transport safety
BMW delivered more than 288,000 Mini brand vehicles in 2025 (+17.7% on 2024), with more than 105,000 of those being fully electric models (+87.9%), meaning that every third Mini sold globally is now electric. BMW reported that in certain markets, including Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden and China, the share of Mini battery EVs in the brand’s overall sales is above 50%.
Electric versions of the Mini include the Mini Cooper 3-Door, Mini Cooper 5-Door and Mini Cooper Convertible, as well as the Mini Countryman. The Mini Aceman is being added in 2026, an electric compact crossover that fits between the 3/5 door city car and the family SUV. The all-electric Mini Cooper 3-door and Mini Aceman are being produced in Zhangjiagang, China, while the Mini Countryman is produced in all drive variants at the Leipzig plant in Germany.
BMW’s plant in Oxford, UK has been manufacturing the current generation of the Mini 3-Door, 5-Door and the new Mini Convertible driven with combustion engines for all markets worldwide since 2024.
“As the multiple uncertainties surrounding the automotive industry, including the varying battery electric vehicles (BEVs) acceptance in global markets remain, we are utilising the flexibility of the BMW Group production network with its three Mini production sites to satisfy customer demand across all powertrains for the brand,” said a spokesperson for BMW and Mini. “However, we are constantly monitoring the development of market conditions and will adjust model allocation and production capacities at Oxford at the optimal time to satisfy customer demand around the world.”
BEV shipment guidance
This growth in EV sales for the Mini brand raises questions about the provisions BMW is making in transport and storage to support the growing volumes of EVs being delivered to customers. BMW said is well equipped to manage the increase in Mini volumes alongside other BMW BEV shipments and is keeping a close eye on safety protocols.
“Compliance with safety-related requirements for vehicle transport is our top priority,” said BMW in a statement. “This naturally also applies to the transport of electric vehicles. The BMW Group continuously addresses these requirements, maintains close contact with transport service providers and associations, and follows, for example, the recommendations of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG).”
In October last year the ECG’s Quality Working Group published a manual dedicated to the safe handling of BEVs in maritime transport, with input from all of its shipping line members. The manual was a response to safety concerns linked to the transport of alternative fuel vehicles, including BEVs. The association said the manual’s goal is to consolidate good practices developed individually by carriers into a single, practical reference for the members.
“It reflects the need for clearer guidance in light of the increasing market share of electric vehicles in Europe, while ECG and the drafting group recognise that internationally accepted guidelines will prevail as soon as they are issued. The document makes references to the information included in the European Maritime Safety Agency’s Guidance for Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Ro-Ro Spaces. It recommends that the state of charge (SoC) of the vehicles transported on pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessels be between 20% and 50%, and as well as OEMs, has been taken up by many shipping lines which consequently started to introduce their own requirements for the transported BEVs because of safety concerns.
BMW went on to say that it collaborates with logistics partners to implement and ensure compliance using transport equipment that met the latest technological standards and relevant requirements to continue serving dealers and customers reliably.
