BMW will bring 500 electric Mini to California: 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars.

The electric cars will be built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.

Painted silver and with yellow roofs, the electric Mini are part of a new division called Project i established by the automaker to develop low-emission city cars.

The electric Minis will help BMW to meet new California regulations that will require carmakers selling cars in the state to offer zero emission vehicles.

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