BMW, Great Wall Detail EV Plans for China

BMW AG and Great Wall Motor Co. have revealed more details about their joint venture, which will begin making electric-powered Mini small cars in China in 2021.

Called Spotlight Automotive Ltd., the company will be based in Zhangjiagang, Great Wall general manager Wang Fengying tells The Nikkei.

The partnership plans to build a 5.1 billion-yuan ($760 million) factory in Jiangsu with the capacity to produce 160,000 EVs per year. The facility’s output will include EV models to be marketed separately in China by Great Wall.

BMW and Great Wall announced in February 2018 that they were forming a 50:50 venture to make electric vehicles, and they completed the agreement in July. The new company has been capitalized with 1.7 billion yuan ($253 million).

Wang says some of the Mini EVs made by the venture may be exported. But he didn’t say what markets might be targeted.

Separately, BMW and partner Brilliance Automotive Group Holdings are preparing to make an electric version of its X3 small crossover in China. BMW had hoped to export much of the X3 output. But CEO Herald Krueger revealed earlier this month that BMW won’t determine whether China will become an export hub for EVs until the country and the U.S. resolve trade tensions.