The Future of Electric MINIs: Production Plans, Market Availability & What’s Next

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We broke the news late last year that MINI was changing course, pausing plans to build the J01 electric MINI Cooper and Aceman in the UK. We then confirmed that MINI had canceled plans to build the electric J03 MINI Cooper Convertible in China with Spotlight Motors. But what does all this mean for the future of the electric MINI Cooper? Here’s what we know.

The Electric MINI Cooper in North America

MINI’s current lineup is entirely new as of last year. As you’ll see below, the brand is in a strong position, offering a fresh range of models in most parts of the world. But there are asterisks. If you want an electric MINI Cooper and live in North America, you could be waiting a very long time. MINI’s goal of selling an all-new electric MINI Cooper globally went up in smoke when an international trade war broke out in 2018.

At present, there are no plans to offer the electric MINI Cooper—let alone the Aceman—in North America. This creates a significant gap in MINI’s product portfolio for the region.

	Production Timeline	BMW Platform	Production Location	Europe	Asia	North America
J01 Cooper EV	2024 – 2031	J0	China	X	X
J05 Aceman EV	2024 – 2031	J0	China	X	X
F66 Cooper ICE	2024 – TBD*	UKL	England	X	X	X
F65 Cooper 5 Door ICE	2024 – TBD*	UKL	England	X	X	X
F67 Cooper Convertible ICE	2024 – TBD*	UKL	England	X	X	X
U25 Countryman ICE	2024 – TBD*	FAAR	Germany	X	X	X
U25 Countryman EV	2024 – TBD*	FAAR	Germany	X	X	X

* MINI has moved from defined end of production (EOP) to TBD on several models.

For 2025, the overall product mix remains unchanged. However, individual markets are adjusting model availability. For instance, Australia and New Zealand recently announced the cancellation of the entry-level Cooper E and Aceman E models. With pricing, tariffs, and competitive factors in play, expect similar adjustments across other markets in the coming years.

Will Electric MINI’s Be Made in the UK?

It’s too early to make iron-clad predictions, but we think it’s a safe bet that this will eventually happen. MINI will continue to offer electric products, and manufacturing them in the UK would be a logical move to avoid tariffs in North America. We believe MINI will wait for either a refresh of the existing J01 and J05 or an entirely new electric MINI Cooper designed and engineered by BMW. This likely wouldn’t happen before 2028 and could even extend past 2030.

Will Electric MINI’s Be Made in North America?

Ten years ago, the idea of MINIs being made in North America would have sounded crazy. But given today’s global manufacturing landscape, it no longer seems far-fetched. However, if MINI were to establish production in the region, we’d expect the Countryman or Aceman to be the ideal candidates, given the North American market’s strong preference for crossovers.

What Will Happen to the J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman?

Despite the drama, both are good products that should have plenty of life left in them. We expect MINI to refresh both around 2026 with improved charging speeds and greater range. Our sources also suggest looking for design tweaks and interior material upgrades.

What happens after that is anyone’s guess. We might see a second generation, or—more likely—MINI could move in another direction. In that scenario, we’d expect an all-new model designed and engineered by BMW, potentially leveraging the Neue Klasse platform if it can be downsized enough. Alternatively, MINI could partner with another European automaker to help offset development costs.

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