EU is Rethinking its EV Mandate – What It Means for The MINI Cooper’s Future

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The EU has announced it will bring forward its review of the 2035 zero-emission vehicle target to the end of this year, two years earlier than planned. On the surface this is just a policy check-in, but the implications for brands like MINI are enormous and it could mean combustion engines will be available well past 2035.

First a little background. Back in 2023 the EU passed a landmark law that would effectively ban the sale of new combustion-engine cars starting in 2035. The regulation requires all new cars sold after that date to be zero-emission, with only narrow exceptions for vehicles running on e-fuels. For automakers, it set a firm deadline to phase out petrol and diesel models across Europe and sparked billions in investment toward electrification.

But as we’ve covered extensively on MotoringFile, things haven’t gone exactly to plan. Consumer adoption of EVs has been uneven and charging infrastructure has lagged. This resulted in BMW rethinking MINI’s EV-only strategy. MINI has since confirmed it will continue to produce ICE versions of the Cooper and Countryman longer than originally expected, as we first reported here and later here. Now, with the EU bringing its 2035 review forward, what once seemed like a fixed deadline is suddenly in flux — giving MINI more flexibility, but also more uncertainty, in charting its future.

That uncertainty has only intensified. Just last year, BMW halted plans to make Oxford an EV-only plant by 2030, casting doubt on MINI’s transition timetable. And as we reported, MINI delayed its all-electric deadline and committed to producing ICE models longer than originally planned.

The J01 MINI Cooper S was MINI’s first bespoke chassis EV

The EU’s accelerated review could cement that decision. If synthetic fuels or limited hybrid exemptions become part of the framework—as is now under discussion—MINI would be in position to extend combustion offerings like the F66 Cooper and F67 Convertible beyond their expected lifespans. It could also add runway for the new ICE Countryman, which is set to remain in production into the mid-2030s.

On the flip side, the EU is also weighing regulatory incentives for small EVs. That could play directly to MINI’s strengths with the J01 Cooper EV and J05 Aceman, which align perfectly with that category. And as we’ve detailed, BMW’s next-generation EV architecture—the so-called Gen6—has the potential to transform MINI’s range, charging speeds, and efficiency by the late 2020s.

So where does this leave MINI? Right in the middle of the storm. As we explored last fall, MINI’s entire identity is now being pulled between its ICE heritage and its EV future. With the EU moving the goalposts, MINI’s decision to hedge—by offering combustion, hybrid, and full EVs side by side—is looking more like thoughtful foresight than hesitation.

The EU’s review could actually work in MINI’s favor. Potential carve-outs for synthetic fuels or limited hybrids would give the brand even more runway for its combustion models, while incentives for small EVs could strengthen the case for the J01 Cooper and J05 Aceman. In other words, MINI’s dual-track strategy of extending ICE while investing heavily in EVs might not just be hedging bets — it could become a genuine competitive advantage.

For fans, that means one thing: the future of the Cooper and Countryman is less about deadlines and more about options.

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