The German group Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) plans to move the production of the electric Mini, to be launched this year, from the UK to Germany, in response to the plans of the UK to leave the European single market after Brexit, according to an announcement of the German publication Handelsblatt.

“BMW could transfer the production to its factories in Regensburg and Leipzig, another option is the Nedcar plant in the Netherlands”, says Handelsblatt quoting sources inside the luxury car manufacturer. Thus, next week the negotiations between BMW and the representatives of the Government in London could begin, and a decision could be announced in the second half of 2017.

The BMW representatives did not commented the information, but unofficial sources have explained that the German company is no longer interested in investing in Oxford, where the main factory in the UK is located, which produces the Mini model, if the UK will exit from the European single market after a “hard Brexit”.

General manager Harald Krueger announced recently that he plans to increase the sales of electric vehicles next year by two thirds, to 100.000 units, following the diversification of the battery models for such vehicles.

“To stimulate sales, BMW will extend the range of the battery for the city model i3 by 50%”, said company representatives.

According to an analysis, the percentage of electric cars and hybrids of all sales will increase to 15-25% by 2025, said the general manager of BMW.

The Berlin Government’s objective is that in 2020, one million electric cars will be running on the roads of Germany. Also in respect of the German carmakers BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen are already producing electric cars, while Audi and Porsche have plans for the production of such cars.