6:24 am, December 4, 2008
BMW is not ruling out launching a fourth model brand to its portfolio, to market future electric-drive cars.
At the launch of the all-electric MINI E, the company remained open minded about its electric car future.
When asked whether future BMW Group electric models would use the MINI brand, a spokesperson said ‘maybe’.
‘But we’re also considering whether to introduce a fourth brand to market our electric drive models.’
The MINI project, they continued, is to get experience of both the required infrastructure for electric cars, and the issues over front-wheel-drive electric cars.
Nearly all electric car testbeds to date have been rear-drive.
BMW Group is not short of brands to launch. It still owns the Triumph moniker, for example, as part of the MG Rover deal.
Also in its portfolio is the Riley name.
The decision is not required for several years, though. Electric models remain 5-10 years away.
Plenty of time, then, for car dealers to offer their input to the brand.
By Richard Aucock
