AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)10/14 Report--

On Oct. 14, several media reported that the new domestic all-electric MIN model, which will be available for the global market in 2024, has been officially released at the Beamlight Automobile Factory, a joint venture between BMW and the Great Wall. Judging from the photos at the scene, the model that will be released this time is the same as the previously released MINI COOPER and will compete with smart Genie # 1 in the future. According to previous reports, the beam factory will successively put into production the new MINI COOPER and MINI Aceman pure electric compact cross-border models, and the beam car will become its first producing area and main export base in the world.

In terms of appearance, the new MINI COOPER as a whole continues the classic shape of the current MINI, with round headlights and oval front grille, white suspended roof and blue body complement each other, with exquisite new rims, very recognizable. On the side, the new car is still a classic two-door design, and it does not directly cancel the two-door version like the domestic smart. In the rear part of the car, instead of using a capsule-shaped half-British flag taillight, the new car uses a triangular taillight design, which is connected by a through strip in the middle, which looks sharper.

In terms of interior decoration, the new MINI COOPER cancels the dashboard, and the HUD head-up display system will replace the dashboard. The central control screen still continues the iconic design of MINI, but it is no longer a rectangle cut out of the circle, but a real round screen. In addition, the button area under the central control screen also uses circular design elements, which still has a certain inheritance with the current model. The steering wheel also uses a new style, while abandoning the classic circular air conditioning outlet, but using the current popular through air outlet.

Data show that Light Beam Automobile Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Beam Automobile") was established on December 27th, 2019, the registered address is Zhangjiagang Economic and technological Development Zone, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, and the legal representative is Zhao Guoqing, deputy general manager and vice chairman of Great Wall Motors. The registered capital is 1.7 billion yuan, and the business period is from December 27, 2019 to December 26, 2034. Equity penetration shows that Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd. and BMW (Holland) Holdings each own 50% of the joint venture, of which BMW (Holland) Holdings is the actual controller.

Beam Automobile is the first joint venture project of Great Wall Motor, and it is also the first pure electric vehicle joint venture project of BMW in Germany. The cooperation mode of the two sides adopts the mode of "joint venture without joint venture" for the first time, that is, to jointly develop and produce automobiles. However, the products will be sold in the respective service networks of BMW Group and Great Wall Motor respectively by brand.

However, the progress of the beam car has been particularly slow, with the later smart, the first pure electric model already in mass production and on the market in China. On December 27, 2019, Zhi Motor Motor Co., Ltd., jointly funded by Geely Automobile Group Co., Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz Co., Ltd., was established, each holding 50% of the shares. On June 6, 2022, smart Spirit # 1 officially launched, the new car is based on Geely's vast SEA architecture, the Mercedes-Benz design department is responsible for styling design, Geely is responsible for vehicle research and development, positioning as pure electric small SUV, the price is 18.16-232400 yuan, there are single-motor rear drive, dual-motor all-wheel drive two kinds of power, and 500km, 535km, 600km three kinds of life options. At present, smart models on sale include smart Wizard # 1 and smart Spirit # 3. The data show that the smart brand sold 33645 vehicles in the first three quarters of 2023.

Whether it is MINI or smart, they are only minority brands in China, and what is more important is to feed overseas markets after the realization of domestic production. From the positioning point of view, MINI and smart are similar, and the two brands cooperate with Great Wall and Geely respectively after setting out in the new electrified field, but from the time line, the progress of the beam car is particularly slow, and the first new car will not be introduced to the market until 2024, in the face of the increasingly competitive Chinese market and the large-scale layout of Chinese brands in the global market. MINI, which locates itself as a niche, has obviously lost more opportunities for development.

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