Life & Style | Motoring
BMW to lease electric Mini Coopers in US
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG plans to lease 500 electric Mini Cooper small cars in New York, New Jersey and California early next year, stepping up its pace on the fuel- efficient vehicles.
- By Mike Ramsey, Bloomberg
- Published: 00:11 October 20, 2008
Michigan: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG plans to lease 500 electric Mini Cooper small cars in New York, New Jersey and California early next year, stepping up its pace on the fuel- efficient vehicles.
The two-seat cars will be leased to customers for one year with an option for an extension, the Munich-based automaker said in a statement. BMW didn't say what the cost would be or how customers can apply. The battery-powered cars will have a range of 150 miles fully charged, the company said.
"It's not about revenue. It is something they can do to establish their green brand,'' said Jim Hall, an analyst at 2953 Analytics in Birmingham, Michigan.
The plan by BMW, the world's largest maker of luxury autos, to get the cars on the road early next year comes after Jim McDowell, Mini's chief for North America, said in July that it would offer them by mid-2009.
Automakers such as General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Chrysler LLC are pushing to bring electric vehicles to market, after record US gasoline prices spurred demand for fuel-efficient models.
BMW plans to use the 500 Minis primarily to gather information about performance. The vehicles will be built in Oxford, UK, and Munich, and will have only two seats because of room needed for the batteries. The company said it is also considering electric Minis for Europe.
"The number of cars is a good number because it is going to give them very good data,'' Hall said.
More from Motoring
More from Life & Style
Popular in Motoring
Life & Style editor's choice
-
Ten simple ways to love yourself
Just a few small changes to your day can make a big difference
-
Style story: Make waves with beachwear
Life's a beach in this summer's gorgeous new swimwear
-
2012 Ford Focus: Smashingly good
The all-new Focus turned Imran Malik Hulk-green with rage at one point
Multimedia
