BMW adds rugged MINI Countryman and tests hydrogen truck

According to the company, the MINI Countryman Untamed Edition had a distinctive, more rugged design and enhanced off-road capability. It offered greater all-terrain versatility thanks to increased ground clearance and all-terrain tyres.

BMW Group conducted field testing of a truck with a hydrogen engine. The testing took place at Plant Leipzig.

The Untamed Edition featured exclusive design features and intelligent MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, a system that sent power to all wheels. The expanded outdoor offering came through partnerships with AUTOHOME and HELINOX.

Trucks with hydrogen combustion engines, engines that burned hydrogen, were described as a robust and scalable complement to electric trucks in just-in-time logistics, where parts arrived exactly when needed. Their short refuelling times and high versatility offered potential for long-haul routes and multi-shift operations.

BMW Group conducted field testing of the hydrogen-engine truck at Plant Leipzig. The BMW Group Logistics head said: “For the first time in German car production, we are using a truck with a hydrogen combustion engine.”

The developments concerned different sides of the business. The MINI added off-road and outdoor elements around an existing model, while the truck trial explored another low-emission option beside electric vehicles in plant logistics.

For investors, the open points were operational rather than financial. Attention rested on how the Leipzig experience compared with electric trucks in refuelling, versatility and shift work, and on how buyers responded to the rugged design and outdoor accessories.