What's the news?
BMW has announced that, following on from Volvo's similar recent commitment, it's going to make electric or hybrid versions of every model and range that it builds.
The first of the new swathe of electrified models will be a battery-only MINI 3-door hatchback, which will join the existing plug-in hybrid Countryman in the MINI range from 2019 onwards.
The new MINI electric powertrain will be built in Germany, in BMW's plants in Dingolfing and Landshut in Bavaria, and then sent to the MINI factory in Oxford, in the UK, sidestepping a possible Brexit-induced retreat from UK manufacturing.
Oliver Zipse, BMW AG Management Board member for Production said: "BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Landshut play a leading role within our global production network as the company's global competence centre for electric mobility. Our adaptable production system is innovative and able to react rapidly to changing customer demand. If required, we can increase production of electric drivetrain motor components quickly and efficiently, in line with market developments."
BMW says that it has an aspiration for electric and hybrid cars to make up 15-25 per cent of its sales by 2025, but that "factors such as regulation, incentives and charging infrastructure will play a major role in determining the scale of electrification from market to market." The current setup where the MINI will have its electric drivetrain built in a different factory to the rest of the car will also be streamlined, so that electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel models can all be built on the same line in the same factory.
BMW has also confirmed that it will build its long-awaited third i-brand model, currently code-named i-Next, at the same factory in Dingolfing where it currently builds the plug-in hybrid 530e and 740e. That suggests that the i-Next will also be a saloon, or low-slung crossover model and BMW has said that it will go into production in 2021.
Beyond that, an all-electric X3 will go on sale in 2020, while a convertible version of the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car goes on sale next year.