Mini to launch last petrol car in 2025

Mini plans to phase out petrol-engine cars far sooner than expected with the announcement that its last gas-engine model will be launched in 2025 ahead of an all-EV range by 2030.

A report by Autoweek, which gave the indication, also stated that Mini planned a number of new crossovers, including a small MPV that could be badged as the Mini Traveller, dusting off an old nameplate.

Mini has faced pressures to offer more crossovers and to get rid of slower-selling variants, as market tastes have turned sharply away from hatches.

Mini plans to release its last gas-engined model in 2025, Autoweek quotes a Der Spiegel report, ahead of a turn to an all-electric lineup by 2030. The German publication indicated that the BMW Group brand would lay out its long-term plans for such an evolution in the coming days, ones expected to be in line with Germany’s own intention to phase out gas-engined vehicles by 2030.

A number of other countries have also moved up their plans to phase out sales and new registrations of gas- and diesel-engined models, making the switch to EV-only lineups a priority for a number of automakers.

Mini is perhaps better suited than most to switch to an all-EV lineup, already offering one battery-electric model and having a relatively straightforward range of compact vehicles that could all convert to a single EV platform, removing the need for platforms of varying sizes.

The automaker has already foreshadowed the move late last year with plans for a new electric crossover to be developed with China’s Great Wall Motors starting in 2023.