BMW Confirms Electric MINIs Coming to America, but Is No-Comment on Diesels

At right, a dragster MINI Cooper.

Earlier this month we told you that Automotive News Europe was reporting that BMW plans to export nearly 500 electric versions of its popular MINI Cooper to California.

Today, Shawn Ticehurst of BMW Group, parent of the MINI brand, confirmed that "several hundred" electric MINIs would be coming the United States and that BMW was presently testing electric versions of the popular little car.

He said the cars would be available to the public. But whether they will be sold or leased - and technical details, such as the driving range between charges - are unknown at this time, Ticehurst said.

At least one blog reported today that BMW was seriously considering exporting diesel-powered MINI Coopers to the United States.

Ticehurst wouldn't deny the report, but he wouldn't confirm it either, chuckling instead as he said, "We haven't announced that at all."

Scott Doggett, Contributor 

Posted by

Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 5:35 PM

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BMW, Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, MINI, Plug-ins and Electric