In a disappointing turn for U.S. Mini enthusiasts, the BMW Group’s British brand has announced that it will not launch its smallest electric models—the Mini Cooper Electric and Aceman—in North America for the foreseeable future. The decision, likely influenced by the 100% import tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles (EVs), has put a halt to the brand’s plans to expand its EV offerings in the U.S. and Canada.
The Mini Cooper Electric three-door hatchback and the Aceman five-door crossover, which debuted in 2023 and 2024 respectively, were intended to mark Mini’s transition to an EV-only platform. However, both models are currently manufactured in China, a situation that makes them subject to significant import tariffs, effectively locking them out of the U.S. market for now. The decision to defer their launch indefinitely was confirmed by Mini, with a spokesperson stating to Road&Track: “A decision has been taken to defer market availability of these models in the U.S. (and Canada) until a later date … At this time we’re not able to confirm what that date may be.”
As part of its strategy to sidestep these tariffs, Mini has committed to shifting production of these models to the UK, with manufacturing scheduled to begin at Mini’s Oxford plant in 2026. However, in addition to relocating production, Mini will also need to eliminate China-sourced components to fully comply with U.S. regulations—a process that could take significant time and resources to restructure supply chains and find alternative suppliers. This shift in strategy was first reported by Motoring File.
The U.S. market will continue to receive the larger Mini Countryman, which is available in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric variants. Currently, the only fully electric Mini available in the U.S. is the Countryman Electric, which is produced in Leipzig, Germany. Meanwhile, the Cooper Electric and Aceman remain unavailable, leaving a potential gap in Mini’s EV offerings in North America for the near future.
The Cooper Electric and Aceman feature a range of configurations, including single front-mounted electric motors producing 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS), 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS), or 255 hp (190 kW / 258 PS) in the top JCW versions. These models offer a WLTP range of up to 406 km (252 miles) on a full charge, with energy sourced from a 40.7 kWh or 54.2 kWh battery pack.
