Mini enthusiasts in the United States hoping for the electric Cooper and Aceman will have to wait. Mini confirmed it has deferred plans to introduce these models to the U.S. and Canadian markets indefinitely.
The new electric Cooper and Aceman, unveiled over a year ago, seemed like strong contenders for U.S. consumers, particularly the larger Aceman crossover. However, production challenges and steep tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles (EVs) have complicated their path to American showrooms.
Tariffs loom large over Chinese-made Minis
Mini
Both the Cooper and Aceman are currently manufactured in China, subjecting them to 100% tariffs on Chinese-built EVs entering the United States. These tariffs significantly inflate prices, making these vehicles less competitive in the U.S. market.
Other automakers facing similar hurdles, like Volvo, have adjusted production strategies to sidestep these tariffs. Volvo plans to manufacture its EX30 EV in Belgium starting in 2025 to address this issue. Additional production of the Cooper and Aceman is set to start in Oxford, England in 2026, which may make importing the models to the U.S. more feasible.
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It’s the Countryman’s time to shine
While the Cooper and Aceman are on hold, Mini’s larger Countryman SE electric crossover is already available in the U.S. Produced at BMW Group’s plant in Leipzig, Germany, the Countryman SE avoids the Chinese tariff bottleneck and represents a more viable option for U.S. buyers.
BMW
The Countryman SE may also better align with American consumer preferences, given its size and practicality compared to the more compact Cooper and Aceman.
A Mini-sized hole in the U.S. market
Issues around importing the new Cooper and Aceman may be the latest problem for Mini in the United States, but they’re far from the only ones.
The iconic British automaker has struggled to sell cars in the U.S. at the same volume it once did. With about 17,500 sales so far this year, Mini is set to end 2024 with the worst annual sales figures in over a decade, according to data from Good Car Bad Car.
Importing more new models to the U.S. certainly won’t hurt sales, but it may not significantly help them either. Simply put, SUV-obsessed Americans may not gravitate toward a Mini in the way they once did—a fact that makes the prospect of importing the Cooper and Aceman to the U.S. all the more laborious.
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Mini
Final thoughts
Mini has not ruled out eventually bringing the electric Cooper and Aceman to the U.S. market. However, the brand remains noncommittal on a timeline, stating only that availability is deferred “until a later date.”
The situation highlights broader challenges facing automakers navigating shifting trade policies and the need to source components outside of China. Even UK-produced Mini models could face complications under existing U.S. trade rules, as sourcing non-Chinese components is a complex and time-intensive process.
For now, Mini fans seeking a smaller electric option will need to remain patient. Until production or tariff policies change, the Countryman SE remains the flagship electric offering for Mini in the United States.
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