The BMW Group has signed a letter of intent with the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor to form a new joint venture to produce electric MINI vehicles in China. In the next step, the companies will agree on the details of a possible JV and clarify aspects such as the choice of production location.

Meanwhile, the group plans to further expand its existing BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture in China. In addition to its two auto production locations, BBA runs an engine plant, which includes a battery factory for electrified BMW brand vehicles produced locally in Shenyang.

China is by far BMW’s largest national market – some 560,000 BMWs were delivered to Chinese customers in 2017 – more than in the next two largest markets, the US and Germany, combined. China was MINI’s fourth-largest market, with around 35,000 units delivered.

Source: BMW Group