US & EU Tariffs Crush MINI’s Dreams & Change Production Plans

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As we detailed in our three part series “Did MINI Go Electric Too Soon“, MINI has been on the back foot caught in the middle of global politics and a trade war. What that means for production and model availability is starting to come into picture. What that means for the brand however remains to be seen.

It all started with the US adding a 25% tariff to Chinese electric cars in 2018 due to allegations that the government in China was illegally propping up the industry. Right or wrong the concern was that low-priced, heavily subsidized Chinese EVs could soon flood the U.S. market. Which they did elsewhere as China’s global exports of EVs grew by 70% from 2022 to 2023. These tariffs will now rise to 100% later this year.

The Chinese built MINI Aceman will expand production to the UK in 2026

Much of that EV growth was in Europe where up to 37.6 percent a tariffs went into effect just weeks ago.

Currently BMW is eating that cost likely eliminating most if not all profit from each car sold. If stye and not passing it onto the consumer. If they would the result would be an MSRP increase of more than €13,000 to the price of the J01 Cooper.

The answer? MINI has changed strategy and will expand production of both the J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman to its Oxford UK plant as quickly as possible. The date set is 2026 and it’s our understanding that the J01, J03 and J05 will all be produced there along with the F65, F66 and F67.

What damage (if any) happens to the brand until that time remains to be seen.

Part 1: Did MINI Go Electric Too Soon? (Why & How)

Part 2: Did MINI Go Electric Too Soon? (a Bold Choice in a Changing World)

Part 3: Did MINI Go Electric Too Soon or Not Soon Enough?

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